ABU DHABI // Mention Art and Abu Dhabi in the same sentence and most people would conjure up images of the Abu Dhabi Louvre and Guggenheim and exclusive invite-only galleries.
But yesterday at same location of those future grand museums - Saadiyat Island - a completely different art initiative ended its first annual event.
"Art for All", an arts programme launched by the Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, aimed to not only promote emerging Emirati artist but engage the Emirati public in art while increasing their art awareness and interest.
"Art for All is the result of our wish to inspire the community at a grassroots level and raise their interest in the arts by making it more accessible," said Sheikha Salama.
Starting at the beginning of October, the programme took art on buses across the Abu Dhabi emirate.
An "Art for All Community Week" was also held last month at Khalifa Park where workshops with renowned local and international artists were set up to help create public interest.
Budding Emirati artists also had a chance to showcase their works in public spaces such as the Abu Dhabi Mall, Al Bawadi Mall, around the city and Al Gharbiya Mall in Abu Dhabi's Western Region.
"People who come to galleries are usually invited and part of the art circles and galleries display to sell," said Dana Al Mazrouei, 26, one of the five up-and-coming artist whose work was displayed.
"But having my art displayed in a mall makes it more accessible and puts its in a different context."
Alia Lootah, 33, whose work was also showcased in the exhibitions, said that as artists they had a responsibility to spread art all over the UAE.
A teacher of fine arts at the University of Sharjah, Ms Lootah felt it was just as important to spread awareness about art as it was to create it. "The field is relatively new here and sometimes it is too commercial and gets disconnected from the community," she said. "It is important to have down-to-earth events such as Art for All."
Through the initiative, Ms Lootah believed that many talented artists in the UAE would find an outlet and encouragement to pursue their talents.
The annual exhibition aimed to stimulate members of community to reflect on the creations of art and express their views about what is offered by artists.
Hamdan Al Shamsi, 31, incorporated his artistic talent in his classes when he was an English teacher at an Al Ain public school. "I would tell my students to act out short stories or elaborate on them through pictures, using methods of art to inspire their creativity," he said.
Noting the number of young artists in the Emirates was on the increase, Mr Al Shamsi believed it was essential to have good platforms for them to be expressive.
"It is important to bring galleries to normal people because you are providing knowledge to the public," he said.
Now a human resources analyst, Mr Al Shamsi created his work in his spare time, but hoped one day to be a full-time artist.
"At night I am a vampire artist. It's not easy to be an artist, you need income, but I encourage all students to pursue it as long as they are keen," he said.
When the programme ended, Hessa Al Hameli, programme manager for the Art Culture and Heritage of the Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, looked back on the event as a success.
"We have had so much positive response - from the public and artists alike," she said.
Ms Al Hameli added that the involvement of the public in art was key to the peoples' development.
"As a society grows, art is an amazing and powerful way to convey messages, to think without words, and bring its people together," she said.
Thinking ahead to the emerging museums such as the Louvre and Guggenheim Ms Al Hameli believed the initiative would only strengthen them. "Involving the public at this time will create artistic pioneers who will be the future of these establishments, they will be running and supporting them and we will have a great audience for all of them," Ms Al Hameli said.
tsubaihi@thenational.ae
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
THE SPECS
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The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE
Price, base / as tested Dh274,000 (estimate)
Engine 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder
Gearbox Nine-speed automatic
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
UAE Team Emirates
Valerio Conti (ITA)
Alessandro Covi (ITA)
Joe Dombrowski (USA)
Davide Formolo (ITA)
Fernando Gaviria (COL)
Sebastian Molano (COL)
Maximiliano Richeze (ARG)
Diego Ulissi (ITAS)
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Honeymoonish
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
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
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
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
Disposing of non-recycleable masks
Use your ‘black bag’ bin at home
Do not put them in a recycling bin
Take them home with you if there is no litter bin
- No need to bag the mask
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Sri Lanka squad
Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Niroshan Dickwella, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milinda Siriwardana, Roshen Silva, Akila Dananjaya, Charith Asalanka, Shaminda Eranga and Dhammika Prasad.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
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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
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
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Opening Rugby Championship fixtures:Games can be watched on OSN Sports
Saturday: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney, 1pm (UAE)
Sunday: South Africa v Argentina, Port Elizabeth, 11pm (UAE)
PAKISTAN v SRI LANKA
Twenty20 International series
Thu Oct 26, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
Fri Oct 27, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
Sun Oct 29, 3rd T20I, Lahore
Tickets are available at www.q-tickets.com
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Crops that could be introduced to the UAE
1: Quinoa
2. Bathua
3. Amaranth
4. Pearl and finger millet
5. Sorghum
