I stood distraught in my old home in the leafy suburb of Maadi in Cairo. In the 10 years that I’d been away from the city, the apartment’s walls had developed cracks, mould had mushroomed in some areas and dust masked everything. I’d never seen a piece of my childhood in such disrepair, but I parked my pain and charged ahead with why I was here: to save my grandmother Menhat Helmy’s artwork.
Something had clicked during my visit home in 2019 – maybe it was the cacophony of Cairene street sounds mixed with the omnipresence of Umm Kulthum’s songs, the constant gaze of the Pyramids, the sweet taste of strong tea, the friendly faces from my childhood. Maybe I had packed this sorrowful nostalgia in tight cellophane wrapping that had come loose because it had to be felt. I knew I had to save Nanna’s work and I had to do it right now.
My aunt, rest her soul, had done a great job of documenting her mother’s work in the early 2000s, but I knew, as a journalist, that it ought to be digitised, shot in high-resolution format, re-catalogued professionally and made accessible. Over 10 hours, four movers walked up four flights of stairs, repacked 100 artworks and loaded them on to trucks.
Though I’d instructed them to drive at 10 kilometres per hour, I held my breath as we traversed the potholes en route to my late aunt’s apartment (now the family home). Six flights of stairs up later, I called my cousin Amr and together we unpacked, inspected and hung all the paintings. Amid the melodious street sounds emanating from below, the sheer awe consumed us as we sat back and wondered how Nanna did all this.
I spend hours staring at her abstract pieces and always identify new dimensions and a plethora of optical illusions. What looks like a green square at first sight employs dozens of shades of green, and leaves you wondering how far she went given her fascination with space, technology, and spirituality.
Karim Zidan on his grandmother Menhat Helmy's work
The familiarity of some paintings felt like a portal to my childhood, triggering the recollection of conversations with Nanna. My eyes fell on an etching of a nude, and I smiled, remembering my adolescent innocence when I asked how she could draw a woman she didn’t know. Only later did I learn that this etching was awarded a prize from the Slade School of Fine Arts in 1955, where Nanna had studied drawing, painting and etching.
She never mentioned that she was a skilled artist or celebrated arts professor; it was always my mother and family members who spoke of her achievements. Nanna was far too modest and always eloquently shushed any discussion on her success.
She lived in the affluent Zamalek district in an apartment with a massive library (which I now own) and a printmaking machine, which she donated to Helwan University, where she taught until her death, in part owing to lung damage that was brought on from the chemicals in her etchings.
I remember how her violent cough would leave her heaving each night, her body wrestling to quell her burning lungs as I rubbed her back until she slept. When morning came, I’d marvel at her precision at breakfast: a small piece of bread and some cheese, which she cut in small cubes and ate morsel by morsel, slow and steady.
I think that this serenity and meticulousness that she applied to everything stemmed from her childhood, when she was allowed to just be. Nanna’s father was keen on his daughters’ education and independence, and no doubt, when you’re given such respect and freedom, you flourish.
After graduating from Cairo’s High Institute of Pedagogic Studies in 1949, Nanna enrolled at the Slade in 1952 and the black-and-white etchings she made afterwards documented life in Egypt: the construction of the Aswan High Dam, workers in the Bulaq suburb and the 1957 parliamentary elections that marked the first time women were allowed to vote or stand for election.
In 1957, she married my grandfather, Abdelghaffar Khallaf, a physician whose progressive attitude towards women mirrored traits in Nanna’s father. He became medical attache to the Egyptian embassy in London, where Nanna studied coloured graphics at Morley College between 1973 and 1978. From her, I know that their marriage was a partnership bound by respect and love; he cheered her on – you can see it in his beaming face from the photos of her exhibitions.
Her historically relevant works from the 1950s and 1960s speak of an Egypt that I can’t find in textbooks. I am awed at how Nanna viewed women in society and political life.
She was so far ahead of her time that it almost hurt her – in an exhibition guest book, an anonymous comment reads: “While this art is indeed impressive, it disappoints me to see that you’ve adopted a western style instead of nationalist fervour.” Shame that person couldn’t grasp that Nanna’s abstraction was wholly influenced by Islamic art.
I spend hours staring at her abstract pieces and always identify new dimensions and a plethora of optical illusions. What looks like a green square at first sight employs dozens of shades of green, and leaves you wondering how far she went given her fascination with space, technology and spirituality.
Nanna died in 2004, and three years later, my aunt died in a car accident. My mother, brother and I then moved to Canada to start a new life. I studied journalism, and Egypt felt so far away, so did Nanna’s art, until that fateful trip back home all those years later.
Though I could hear her shushing me and asking me not to make a fuss, it’s almost as though her legacy tells me otherwise: months after rescuing her artworks, my mother returned to the apartment, and as fate would have it, found never-before-seen copper and zinc plates that Nanna used to create her etchings, alongside sketchbooks, exhibition catalogues and books.
I was elated and felt even more compelled to celebrate her. Now that we’ve formalised the estate, more articles are being written about her, institutions and researchers are reaching out and I feel it’s on us to applaud a woman who built an astounding legacy in a patriarchal society and industry.
Nanna made me feel like I was the most special and brightest person in the world. Funny, that’s precisely how I think of her.
Remembering the Artist is our series that features artists from the region
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Company%20profile
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Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Tenet
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh
Rating: 5/5
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
LIGUE 1 FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Nice v Angers (9pm)
Lille v Monaco (10.45pm)
Saturday
Montpellier v Paris Saint-Germain (7pm)
Bordeaux v Guingamp (10pm)
Caen v Amiens (10pm)
Lyon v Dijon (10pm)
Metz v Troyes (10pm)
Sunday
Saint-Etienne v Rennes (5pm)
Strasbourg v Nantes (7pm)
Marseille v Toulouse (11pm)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Company%20profile
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UAE SQUAD
Omar Abdulrahman (Al Hilal), Ali Khaseif, Ali Mabkhout, Salem Rashed, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Zayed Al Ameri, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Khalid Essa, Ahmed Barman, Ryan Yaslam, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmin (Al Wasl), Adel Al Hosani, Ali Hassan Saleh, Majed Suroor (Sharjah), Ahmed Khalil, Walid Abbas, Majed Hassan, Ismail Al Hammadi (Shabab Al Ahli), Hassan Al Muharrami, Fahad Al Dhahani (Bani Yas), Mohammed Al Shaker (Ajman)
Recycle Reuse Repurpose
New central waste facility on site at expo Dubai South area to handle estimated 173 tonne of waste generated daily by millions of visitors
Recyclables such as plastic, paper, glass will be collected from bins on the expo site and taken to the new expo Central Waste Facility on site
Organic waste will be processed at the new onsite Central Waste Facility, treated and converted into compost to be re-used to green the expo area
Of 173 tonnes of waste daily, an estimated 39 per cent will be recyclables, 48 per cent organic waste and 13 per cent general waste.
About 147 tonnes will be recycled and converted to new products at another existing facility in Ras Al Khor
Recycling at Ras Al Khor unit:
Plastic items to be converted to plastic bags and recycled
Paper pulp moulded products such as cup carriers, egg trays, seed pots, and food packaging trays
Glass waste into bowls, lights, candle holders, serving trays and coasters
Aim is for 85 per cent of waste from the site to be diverted from landfill
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
