As summer begins, art galleries in the UAE are putting on new shows for the season.
See work by Emirati artist Maitha Abdalla, whose fantastical paintings are filled with symbolism and references to regional folktales. Elsewhere, pieces by Amir Khojasteh employ symbols, too, namely the moon and the horse as a way to depict victory and the tools of power.
Palestinian artist Yazan Abu Salameh replicates the material of military infrastructure found in everyday life in Bethlehem with mixed media works of concrete in a new solo exhibition, plus a group show at Lawrie Shabibi showcases geometric and calligraphic works.
Here are the latest art shows to see in the UAE.
Sedimentary Matters at Grey Noise
Beirut-born Caline Aoun's second solo exhibition at Grey Noise reveals the hidden stories of the physical world. In Sedimentary Matters, a key work called Fictional Accumulation of Real Shadows' Past demonstrates this. The installation features pieces of sand-coloured fabric hung on the gallery walls. The shapes of the cloth have been drawn from the shadows of the numerous artworks that have come before it, with Aoun combing through Grey Noise's exhibition archive since 2012 to develop the work.
The artist, who exhibited at the Sharjah Biennial in 2019 and was selected as Deutsche Bank’s Artist of the Year in 2018, focuses on giving shape to virtual and invisible dimensions or lesser-known histories, digging up traces and materialising them in various ways.
On view until Saturday, July 31 at Grey Noise, Dubai; greynoise.org
Scars by Daylight at Tabari Art Space
Maitha Abdalla’s surrealist works, which range from paintings and photographs to installation, draw from Emirati folklore. In Scars by Daylight, she depicts the transformation into adulthood through animal characters, specifically the rooster and the pig. For Abdalla, the rooster symbolises forgiveness and innocence, while the pig represents corruption and sin.
The artist, who studied visual arts at Zayed University, is one of the founders of the artist-run studio and exhibition space Bait 15 in Abu Dhabi. She also completed a fellowship for the Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, or Seaf programme, in 2017, and presented her first solo exhibition, Hollowed, at Warehouse421 in 2019.
On view from Wednesday to Sunday, June 2 to 13 at Tabari Art Space; tabariartspace.com
Cemented Sky at Zawyeh Gallery
Palestinian artist Yazan Abu Salameh depicts everyday life in Bethlehem in his work, mimicking the concrete militaristic infrastructure around him. His concrete artworks bear childhood memories of blockades, watchtowers, but also mapping out Palestinian neighbourhoods from a bird’s eye view. These roadblocks and checkpoints are recreated with Lego blocks, cardboard, concrete, pebbles and wire.
Born in Jerusalem in 1993, Abu Salameh studied fine arts Al-Kalima College in Bethlehem. In 2020, he participated in Ramallah’s first art fair, held at Zawyeh Gallery’s space in the West Bank.
On view until Saturday, August 21 at Zawyeh Gallery, Dubai; zawyeh.net
Wonder Land at Taskheel
The first exhibition by film curator, artist and podcaster Hind Mezaina presents glimpses of Dubai that typically remain unnoticed. Her latest work concludes her year-long research for Tashkeel's 2020 Critical Practice Programme and was produced during the start of the pandemic.
The Emirati artist captures the lull in her hometown of Dubai as Covid-19 began to take hold across the world. Through her film photography, Mezaina looks at the city anew, adopting “an almost third-person objectivity towards it”, says Lisa Ball-Lechgar, the deputy director of Tashkeel.
Mezaina has exhibited at the Sharjah Biennial and was part of Abu Dhabi Art's Beyond: Emerging Artists last year. As a film curator, she has developed programmes for Louvre Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Art Foundation.
On view until Tuesday, July 6 at Tashkeel, Dubai; tashkeel.org
Try to Catch the Moon at Carbon 12
Amir Khojasteh’s solo exhibition, Try To Catch The Moon, implies the impossibility of this physical endeavour, and simultaneously, the triumphant overcoming thereof.
Suspended within a twilight zone, with forms that overlay and intertwine, fold and unfurl, his paintings and sculptures tread the line between rest and unrest, peace and chaos.
As the title reveals, Khojasteh’s exhibition is about an impossible task – but more than that, it considers notions of hope and accepting defeat. The Iranian artist uses two symbols in his paintings: the Moon and the horse. The celestial body stands for achievement and victory, while the animal is described as “a means for man towards greatness and power”.
Referencing art history, Khojasteh is drawing parallels to Jacques-Louis David's Napoleon Crossing The Alps, an equestrian portrait that shows the French military leader Napoleon Bonaparte. In his colourful sculptures, Khojasteh also refers to the portrait. Instead of showing a triumphant figure, however, the artist depicts a "sad fighter".
On view at Carbon 12 until Monday, September 6; carbon12.art
Under Construction at Lawrie Shabibi
Group show Under Construction features works by Emirati artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, Hamra Abbas from Kuwait, Driss Ouadahi and Mounir Fatmi, both from Morocco, Nadia Kaabi-Linke from Tunisia and Nathaniel Rackowe from the UK.
Ouadahi and Rackowe’s works were inspired by the artists witnessing Dubai’s construction boom over the last decade. Ouadahi created a series of modelled impressions of the city built from photographs and memories, while Rackowe produced bitumen paintings drawn from photographs of Dubai taken in 2014.
The show also includes Abbas’s marble works, which play with geometric forms, referencing Sol LeWitt’s Incomplete Open Cube drawings, and Nadia Kaabi-Linke’s arrangement in Kufic script, made of manicure and pedicure instruments.
On view until Saturday, June 26 at Lawrie Shabibi; lawrieshabibi.com
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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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 FOR STAGE 4
Stage 4 Dubai to Hatta, 197 km, Road race.
Overall leader Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
Stage winners: 1. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal) 2. Matteo Moschetti ITA (Trek - Segafredo) 3. Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
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
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
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War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
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
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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Match info
Uefa Champions League Group C
Liverpool v Napoli, midnight
What to watch out for:
Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways
The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof
The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history
Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure
Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Results
6.30pm Madjani Stakes Rated Conditions (PA) I Dh160,000 I 1,900m I Winner: Mawahib, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
7.05pm Maiden Dh150,000 I 1,400m I Winner One Season, Antonio Fresu, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Maiden Dh150,000 I 2,000m I Winner Street Of Dreams, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8.15pm Dubai Creek Listed I Dh250,000 I 1,600m I Winner Heavy Metal, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.50pm The Entisar Listed I Dh250,000 I 2,000m I Winner Etijaah, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
9.25pm The Garhoud Listed I Dh250,000 I 1,200m I Winner Muarrab, Dane O’Neill, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
10pm Handicap I Dh160,000 I 1,600m I Winner Sea Skimmer, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
F1 2020 calendar
March 15 - Australia, Melbourne; March 22 - Bahrain, Sakhir; April 5 - Vietnam, Hanoi; April 19 - China, Shanghai; May 3 - Netherlands, Zandvoort; May 20 - Spain, Barcelona; May 24 - Monaco, Monaco; June 7 - Azerbaijan, Baku; June 14 - Canada, Montreal; June 28 - France, Le Castellet; July 5 - Austria, Spielberg; July 19 - Great Britain, Silverstone; August 2 - Hungary, Budapest; August 30 - Belgium, Spa; September 6 - Italy, Monza; September 20 - Singapore, Singapore; September 27 - Russia, Sochi; October 11 - Japan, Suzuka; October 25 - United States, Austin; November 1 - Mexico City, Mexico City; November 15 - Brazil, Sao Paulo; November 29 - Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi.
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Zayed Sustainability Prize
