Behind the many doors that were closed by the pandemic, many of the UAE’s art spaces did not stop working. Warehouse421 was no exception.
The Abu Dhabi art and design centre reopened this month after shuttering in March. During that five-month closure, it was able to launch a Covid-19 relief fund for artists, a residency programme, a podcast and a focus-group initiative, all while pushing ahead with its annual Salama bint Hamdan Emerging Artists Fellowship (Seaf) exhibition.
“A lot of the projects that we launched were not an immediate reaction. There was a lot of thought behind them,” Faisal Al Hassan, head of Warehouse421, says. “We started to think of different modes of connectivity and the work that we do and not immediately go for an aggressive online dump of everything we have,” he adds.
In May, Warehouse421 created the Project Revival Fund to help keep local and regional artistic production going. The centre received more than 150 applications from which 30 projects were chosen and granted packages of up to $2,000 (Dh7,300) per applicant.
The accepted applications came from all over the region, including Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, Algeria and Turkey. Six projects from Sri Lanka were chosen, one of which will be included at 2021's Colomboscope, a contemporary arts festival.
“We weren’t looking for anything in return for these projects. We wanted to make sure that creative production continues while we are struggling to restart,” Al Hassan says, which means that the works were not acquired by Warehouse421 and were not required to be shown at the space.
Shortly after, Warehouse421 kicked off its first residency programme. Already in the works before Covid-19, the programme initially called for Menasa artists to complete the residency in Abu Dhabi. But because of the pandemic it was transformed into a “home-bound” residency, focusing on artists working on digital and research-based projects. The programme offers each resident a production budget of Dh30,000. Details on the residents and projects will be announced next month.
Al Hassan says the adjustment allowed creative practitioners to rethink the boundaries of who they could work with. “It provided a richer opportunity to get to a wider network of people, regionally and internationally. We were also able to pair the artists with mentors from all over the region,” he explains.
How we do complement the physical experience with the digital? The visitor experience now starts from home
Perhaps one of Warehouse421’s most innovative developments during lockdown was its weekly focus group programme, where the centre brought together artists, designers and curators for internal online discussions on challenges within the regional art scene and the impact of the pandemic on their practices.
Al Hassan says that one of the key issues artists raised was the struggle to find affordable studio space in the UAE, a problem that hinders their production. Other discussions centred around the new era of social distancing and how it affects collaborations between artists.
“We’re creating reports out of these focus groups that will inform our five-year strategy for 2021 to 2026,” he says. In this regard, Warehouse421’s focus group programme could be a significant example of how art spaces can be more engaged with local and regional creative communities.
The centre has also been busy preparing for its annual Seaf exhibition, a fellowship programme that has run for more than six years. Aimed at emerging artists in the UAE, it includes a 10-month educational programme with the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) that culminates in an annual show called Community and Critique.
Typically, the cohorts – the word Warehouse421 uses to describe the selected artists – meet with academics, attend lectures and go on studio visits and trips abroad. This year, however, those activities have been taken online.
Despite these changes in teaching modes, Al Hassan says that one of the positive outcomes of the situation was the involvement of previous Seaf fellows in online lectures and discussions. “We started to see a lot of the Seaf alumi come in and engage with the current fellows during the teaching weeks,” he says.
The show is scheduled to open on Saturday, November 7. When it comes to running an exhibition, Al Hassan says there are many things to consider in the age of coronavirus. This is where the digital world can be a big help. "Moving forward, how we do complement the physical experience with the digital? The visitor experience now starts from home," he says.
2020 is the year of coping, and we're starting to look at 2021 as the year of experimentation. This is the new reality that we are living in
Physical art spaces may no longer be the sites where discussions take place. The days of exhibition openings, where artists, writers and visitors gather to talk about the works, may be over – at least for the foreseeable future. Instead, Al Hassan imagines that visitors will read about the show online, come to the centre to see it and then continue with talks and other programming online.
For Al Hassan, it is about striking the right balance. “The physical experience of the exhibition is sacred to us, and that is a main challenge – how do we stay connected with our audiences and provide them with a rich experience that was not overbearing and not a disruption to them?”
Currently, Warehouse421 is operating at 40 per cent capacity, with thermal cameras and disinfection tunnels installed at the centre's entrance. As a new addition, the centre has commissioned artist Khalid Mezaina to illustrate Covid-19 precautionary guidelines that are shown in the space.
Emirati artist Hashel Al Lakmi's show The Cup and The Saucer, which opened in March, is still on view. It includes playful and otherworldly sculptures and installations that investigate ideas of individualism and collectivism. The show will run until Sunday, October 25.
There is also The Stonebreakers, a group show curated by Murtaza Vali, which explores maritime landscapes, specifically on the ship-breaking yards in South Asia. It is on view until the end of the year.
As Warehouse421 rolls on with its programming, Al Hassan and his team continue to reflect on how the ongoing pandemic will shape the way artists make art and the way visitors will experience it.
“The year of 2020 is the year of coping, and we’re starting to look at 2021 as the year of experimentation. This is the new reality that we are living in. Even post-Covid, things will not be the same,” he says. “We just need to be patient until we find the right formula where we can continue to have a physical space, go back to being social beings, but also making sure that the experience is right, with the digital and physical working together.”
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
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BMW M5 specs
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
SPECS
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GULF MEN'S LEAGUE
Pool A Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers 2
Pool B Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jebel Ali Dragons, Dubai Knights Eagles, Dubai Tigers
Opening fixtures
Thursday, December 5
6.40pm, Pitch 8, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Knights Eagles
7pm, Pitch 2, Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Tigers
7pm, Pitch 4, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Exiles
7pm, Pitch 5, Bahrain v Dubai Eagles 2
Recent winners
2018 Dubai Hurricanes
2017 Dubai Exiles
2016 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2015 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2014 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Sweet%20Tooth
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Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier
Results
UAE beat Saudi Arabia by 12 runs
Kuwait beat Iran by eight wickets
Oman beat Maldives by 10 wickets
Bahrain beat Qatar by six wickets
Semi-finals
UAE v Qatar
Bahrain v Kuwait
Sunday:
GP3 race: 12:10pm
Formula 2 race: 1:35pm
Formula 1 race: 5:10pm
Performance: Guns N' Roses
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
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:
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
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The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Results
1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix - 3:45:47
2. David Dekker (NED) Jumbo-Visma - same time
3. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
4. Emils Liepins (LAT) Trek-Segafredo
5. Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis
6. Tadej Pogacar (SLO UAE Team Emirates
7. Anthony Roux (FRA) Groupama-FDJ
8. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:00:03
9. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep
10. Fausto Masnada (ITA) Deceuninck-QuickStep
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
THE CARD
2pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
2.30pm: Handicap Dh 76,000 (D) 1,400m
3pm: Handicap Dh 64,000 (D) 1,200m
3.30pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh 100,000 (D) 1,000m
4pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (D) 1,000m
4.30pm: Handicap 64,000 (D) 1,950m
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3ECompany%20name%3A%20Shipsy%3Cbr%3EYear%20of%20inception%3A%202015%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Soham%20Chokshi%2C%20Dhruv%20Agrawal%2C%20Harsh%20Kumar%20and%20Himanshu%20Gupta%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20India%2C%20UAE%20and%20Indonesia%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20logistics%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%20more%20than%20350%20employees%3Cbr%3EFunding%20received%20so%20far%3A%20%2431%20million%20in%20series%20A%20and%20B%20rounds%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Info%20Edge%2C%20Sequoia%20Capital%E2%80%99s%20Surge%2C%20A91%20Partners%20and%20Z3%20Partners%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
