Emirati women are at the heart of artist Ashwaq Abdulla’s latest work. Specifically, women referred to as “al mabrouka”, who are respected in society for their wisdom and generosity.
This term is the name of the artist’s digital animation, which features 10 watercolour and pastel paintings depicting the various roles of UAE women in the realm of textiles, crafts and agriculture.
In her paintings, Abdulla’s female subjects are suspended against vibrant backdrops of florals, patterns and landscapes. They represent the contributions that Emirati women have made throughout history – weaving baskets, transporting water, stitching textiles and creating traditional jewelry and clothing.
To show her animated paintings to the public, she has produced a video where the works are projected onto the walls of a high ceiling space. Immersed in light and colour, Abdulla walks around and observes her work. Abdulla produced the work with Emirati composer Muhammad Al Ahmad, who provided the music for the animation.
The artist says she hopes that her video makes viewers “understand the role of the Emirati woman and the impact she had on our society throughout the generations.”
She has also included a portrait of the late Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father, who spoke of the importance of literacy for women in the UAE.
Abdulla, who lives in Abu Dhabi, studied interior design and graphic art at the city’s Higher Colleges of Technology. Her work is often tied to Emirati culture, combining elements of local culture with nationalistic tributes.
Her paintings of the UAE’s wildlife and natural landscapes hang in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas and Four Seasons.
Last year, she became the first Emirati artist to design the official trophy of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic, the world’s longest-running women’s-only professional tennis tournament.
Speaking to The National last year, she referred to herself as a "social artist", saying her Instagram following has grown in large part due to her drive to illustrate key issues, such as her watercolour tribute to the UAE's fallen soldiers.
“When I started my social media presence I started to communicate with the community through art and respond to social events through art. It’s very important. Now it’s a huge responsibility. If I don’t do it, people contact me to say, ‘Produce some art and talk about it’”
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
Key Points
- Protests against President Omar Al Bashir enter their sixth day
- Reports of President Bashir's resignation and arrests of senior government officials
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Malin Cilic (CRO) v Benoit Paire (FRA) [8]
Not before 4pm:
Dan Evans (GBR) v Fabio Fogini (ITA) [4]
Not before 7pm:
Pablo Carreno Busta (SPA) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [2]
Roberto Bautista Agut (SPA) [5] v Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)
Court One
Starting at 2pm
Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND) v Dennis Novak (AUT)
Joao Sousa (POR) v Filip Krajinovic (SRB)
Not before 5pm:
Rajeev Ram (USA) and Joe Salisbury (GBR) [1] v Marin Cilic v Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Nikoloz Basilashvili v Ricardas Berankis (LTU)
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
In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
Bio
Born in Dubai in 1994
Her father is a retired Emirati police officer and her mother is originally from Kuwait
She Graduated from the American University of Sharjah in 2015 and is currently working on her Masters in Communication from the University of Sharjah.
Her favourite film is Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro
'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey'
Rating: 3/5
Directors: Ramin Bahrani, Debbie Allen, Hanelle Culpepper, Guillermo Navarro
Writers: Walter Mosley
Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Dominique Fishback, Walton Goggins
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
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Available: Now
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
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David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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
