With Louvre Abu Dhabi, Alserkal Avenue and Etihad Modern Art Gallery, not to mention a Guggenheim in the works, the UAE is undoubtedly up there with the world’s cultural giants.
Yet it’s the pocket-sized art hubs, locally inspired street art and community classes that really bring the Emirates to life.
In this series of guides, we speak to the experts – the tour guides, the nature lovers and the photographers – to unveil the UAE’s hidden gems.
For our fourth instalment, we’re speaking to the artists about where they go to uncover their creative sides.
Hidden in plain sight: street art in Sharjah and Dubai
Muralist Dina Saadi has adorned the walls of the UAE with bold and colourful art, and one of her most striking works is nestled away in the coastal town of Khor Fakkan in Sharjah.
The waterfront became a canvas for Saadi in 2019 when she was commissioned by Maraya Art Centre as part of its Jedariya project, a street art initiative which aimed to beautify Sharjah’s streets.
Saadi’s mural, which depicts a colourful Siamese fighting fish complete with an eye-popping abstract tail, is only one in a stunning series of works that have transformed the area, and the waterfront is high on her list of recommendations for art lovers.
“Khor Fakkan is a beautiful city with multiple murals right by the water,” Saadi says. “I stayed there for a week while working on my mural there and I discovered all kinds of hidden gems.
“Right across the street from the murals there are lots of small shops and restaurants where you can try some local treats – I love the sour sliced mango they sell in a cup.”
Another collection of Saadi’s murals is hidden in plain sight in Dubai Marina.
“I painted three long murals at Marina Walk that you can sit on and become part of the artwork,” she says. “It’s on the huge staircase where people usually sit or work out.
“I spent around 25 days painting three murals measuring around 40 metres in total.”
She still visits the works to this day. “I go there to walk, enjoy the sunset and get frozen rolls from a little ice cream kiosk right under the mural.
“It’s also a great place to get coffee, and I became friends with the kiosk owners, so they used to bring me amazing Turkish coffee every day when I started working, to give me a little boost of energy.”
A treasure trove at Dubai Design District
Saadi’s final recommendation is a treasure trove as opposed to a hidden gem, but in an area as saturated with art as Dubai’s d3, digging out the most spectacular pieces requires an expert eye.
“D3 is a great place to see big murals painted by local artists like Tarsila Schubert, whose mural is in Building 5 next to one of mine,” she says.
“Myneandyours has a mural not far from there and another massive one that covers the full entrance of Building 2 car park.
“Even the ceiling is painted; it’s like walking into an immersive artwork with colour on all sides.”
As well as local artists, d3 has attracted talent from all over the world, with world-renowned artists travelling from as far as the US and Brazil to leave their mark in Dubai.
Keep your eyes peeled for one of the world's most famous street artists, Shepard Fairey, famed for his Andre the Giant Has a Posse and OBEY brand, and for designing Barack Obama's winning "Hope" presidential campaign.
“There’s two big murals by the legendary Shepard Fairey between Building 10 and 11,” Saadi explains. “You can also see Fernando Chamarelli’s murals in Building 6 by both sides of the entrance.”
Dubai for eL Seed: an open studio and local arts hub
French-Tunisian artist eL Seed’s calligraffiti style has been exhibited all over the world, but at his studio in Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz, there’s a strict open-door policy.
“My studio is different to anything else in the city,” he tells The National. “I have an open studio because I feel it’s important to let people see what an art studio really is and witness what it is to be an artist.
“I welcome people to stop by and hear me speak about my work. It’s not a gallery, it’s a working studio and it gives an insight into what being an artist is all about.
“Sometimes people can see what I’m working on, but it’s never guaranteed.”
Outside of his studio, for eL Seed there’s nowhere in the UAE quite like Tashkeel, an art space in Nad Al Sheba that hosts exhibitions and workshops.
“As an artist, I find Tashkeel so inspiring,” he says. “There’s a calmness there that’s really refreshing and a lot of artists work there, so it’s a great place to interact.
“It used to be a school and the energy of the place is still the same. Their goal was to educate and my goal is to inspire, and that’s not such a common thing in Dubai.
“A lot of the time, art galleries are really business orientated but it’s the energy that makes Tashkeel special. I would definitely say it’s a gem.”
The UAE’s best art classes
Artist Leena Kewlani gave up a high-flying career in advertising to focus on pottery and has dedicated much of that time to scope out the best art studios and workshops in the UAE.
“There’s a beautiful studio called Yadawei in Al Quoz,” she says, with a smile. “It’s a lovely pottery studio where you can disconnect from the world and just create something.
“Not a lot of people know about it, but I love it and I’ve been going there for a while.
“It feels like a community and it’s a lovely wide-open space where you can just relax and breathe.”
A 15-minute drive from Yadawei Ceramic Studio lies Dubai International Art Centre in Jumeirah 1, where Kewlani teaches pottery and art.
“The building has been there since the 1970s and it’s a real art community with all manner of classes from silk painting to glass painting and watercolours,” Kewlani explains.
“There’s also an on-site gallery and a little cafe where you can chat with like-minded people and really immerse yourself in the scene.
“There’s no place quite like the UAE to be inspired by art.”
The best places to get creative in the UAE:
- Street art in Khor Fakkan, Sharjah
- Murals at Marina Walk, Dubai Marina
- Murals in Dubai Design District
- eL Seed’s open studio in Alserkal Avenue
- Tashkeel, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai
- Yadawei Ceramic Studio, Al Quoz, Dubai
- Dubai International Art Centre, Jumeirah 1, Dubai
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times
If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.
A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.
The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.
In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.
The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.
Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.
Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.
“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.
The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.
“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.
“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
Poacher
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Look north
BBC business reporters, like a new raft of government officials, are being removed from the national and international hub of London and surely the quality of their work must suffer.
Company profile
Name: GiftBag.ae
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2011
Number of employees: 4
Sector: E-commerce
Funding: Self-funded to date
Company profile
Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MATCH INFO
Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 1', Kane 8' & 16') West Ham United 3 (Balbuena 82', Sanchez og 85', Lanzini 90' 4)
Man of the match Harry Kane
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THREE
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
PETER%20PAN%20%26%20WENDY
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Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious
4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
ACC%20T20%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Championship
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20fixtures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFriday%2C%20June%2017%20v%20Oman%3Cbr%3ESaturday%2C%20June%2018%20v%20Singapore%3Cbr%3EMonday%2C%20June%2020%20v%20Malaysia%3Cbr%3EWednesday%2C%20June%2022%20v%20Qatar%3Cbr%3EFriday%2C%20June%2024%2C%20semi-final%3Cbr%3ESaturday%2C%20June%2025%2C%20final%3Cbr%3E%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chaya%20Mughal%20(captain)%2C%20Esha%20Oza%2C%20Indhuja%20Nandakumar%2C%20Kavisha%20Kumari%2C%20Khushi%20Sharma%2C%20Lavanya%20Keny%2C%20Priyanjali%20Jain%2C%20Rithika%20Rajith%2C%20Samaira%20Dharnidharka%2C%20Sanchin%20Singh%2C%20Siya%20Gokhale%2C%20Suraksha%20Kotte%2C%20Theertha%20Satish%2C%20Vaishnave%20Mahesh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Comeback: Elvis And The Story Of The 68 Special
Simon Goddard
Omnibus Press
Company%20Profile
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MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20turbocharged%204-cyl%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E300bhp%20(GT)%20330bhp%20(Modena)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E450Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDh299%2C000%20(GT)%2C%20Dh369%2C000%20(Modena)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
GRAN%20TURISMO
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The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
The%20trailblazers
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