The Cultural Foundation has opened three new exhibitions in Abu Dhabi this week. Cultural Foundation
The Cultural Foundation has opened three new exhibitions in Abu Dhabi this week. Cultural Foundation
The Cultural Foundation has opened three new exhibitions in Abu Dhabi this week. Cultural Foundation
The Cultural Foundation has opened three new exhibitions in Abu Dhabi this week. Cultural Foundation

The Cultural Foundation launches three new exhibitions: 'It's our responsibility to give back'


Samia Badih
  • English
  • Arabic

It may have spent several months of the year with its doors firmly shut, but the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation did not sit idle.

The foundation, which reopened to visitors in June after a three-month closure due to the pandemic, has now launched three new exhibitions, including a solo showcase of works by Emirati artist Abdulrahim Salim.

"We are very excited about bringing visitors back into our building," Reem Fadda, director of the Cultural Foundation, tells The National. "Our exhibition areas can easily receive visitors while abiding by strict regulations and safety guidelines."

When the pandemic hit, the Cultural Foundation, like many institutions around the world, moved some of its activities, including exhibitions, online.

On its website, there are three virtual tours of previous exhibitions, including The Red Palace.

We have to remember that exhibitions are a means for knowledge making; it's a means for diversifying that knowledge and giving it out to the widest range of public

"That's still something we want to continue doing and we felt the current situation was an opening to reach out into the digital realm and to offer to the widest audience possible our activities and our programmes," Fadda says.

This shift towards online has also allowed the Cultural Foundation to gain new fans.

For instance, its library has now been fully transformed into a digital entity, allowing anyone around the world to become a member, with access to e-books, digital resources and more.

The foundation has also seen its audience grow by introducing online performances, such as this month's free streamed concert by Moroccan-Canadian singer Faouzia.

"The capacity of our theatres is up to 800 or 900 people; we've started to see thousands of followers regionally and even internationally coming to see our events once we debut them online and that's been really fantastic," Fadda adds.

While she agrees nothing compares to being in the physical space of an exhibition or a performance, the director believes this newfound accessibility has presented an opportunity to stay connected.

Reem Fadda, director of Cultural Foundation. Sofia Dadourian
Reem Fadda, director of Cultural Foundation. Sofia Dadourian

"There are only so many exhibitions in the world that you can go to, right? If I have access to museum tours online, I wouldn't feel so disconnected and I don't have to actually get on a plane to see all the shows," Fadda says.

"We have to remember that exhibitions are a means for knowledge-making; a means for diversifying that knowledge and sharing it with a wide audience," she adds. "Of course, physically being with an artwork is incomparable, but sometimes a virtual tour can give you access to knowledge and that is really essential. We've started to learn to tap into that."

The Cultural Foundation now hopes to encourage visitors back to its premises, while striking a balance between its physical and digital offerings.

Its visual arts programme features established and emerging artists from more than 10 countries. Its main exhibition, titled Abdulrahim Salim: Between Chaos and Serenity, is a study of the Emirati artist's works. The exhibition explores Salim’s investigation of dualistic subjects and their inner conflict or struggle, with works oscillating between the figurative and the abstract. Curated by Aysha Al Hemeiri, the exhibition is divided into six themed chapters that include works from as far back as the 1980s, both paintings and prints of collages.

A second related exhibition, titled Maheerah, celebrates Salim's titular muse through the works of 35 multimedia and figurative artists from the UAE, Middle East and beyond.

The second exhibition, Maheerah, is inspired by Abdularhim Salim's muse. Cultural Foundation
The second exhibition, Maheerah, is inspired by Abdularhim Salim's muse. Cultural Foundation

The third and final exhibition, Wonder Writers, comprises a collection of short stories by students from Aldar Academies schools in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Chosen through a writing competition, the students' stories can be read by scanning a bar code on each of the books placed on display.

"To come here provides a space for contemplation, for imagination, a diversified cultural offering for residents of Abu Dhabi who are not travelling," says Fadda. "That is something that we feel becomes our responsibility, to give back to our audience."

The Cultural Foundation is open Saturdays to Thursdays from 10am to 7pm and on Fridays from 2pm to 7pm. All three exhibitions are on show until February 2021

AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street

The seven points are:

Shakhbout bin Sultan Street

Dhafeer Street

Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)

Salama bint Butti Street

Al Dhafra Street

Rabdan Street

Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)

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 specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
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Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

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Transmission: 10-speed auto

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The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

EXPATS
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UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

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War 2

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Rating: 2/5

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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Dragons
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Bahrain
Tries: Kenny, Crombie, Tantoh
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Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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
Day 3 stumps

New Zealand 153 & 249
Pakistan 227 & 37-0 (target 176)

Pakistan require another 139 runs with 10 wickets remaining

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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
 
  • Grade 9 = above an A*
  • Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
  • Grade 7 = grade A
  • Grade 6 = just above a grade B
  • Grade 5 = between grades B and C
  • Grade 4 = grade C
  • Grade 3 = between grades D and E
  • Grade 2 = between grades E and F
  • Grade 1 = between grades F and G
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20profile
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Tips to keep your car cool
  • Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
  • Park in shaded or covered areas
  • Add tint to windows
  • Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
  • Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
  • Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion

The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".

The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.

He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.

"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.

As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.

WHAT ARE NFTs?

     

 

    

 

   

 

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are tokens that represent ownership of unique items. They allow the tokenisation of things such as art, collectibles and even real estate.

 

An NFT can have only one official owner at one time. And since they're minted and secured on the Ethereum blockchain, no one can modify the record of ownership, not even copy-paste it into a new one.

 

This means NFTs are not interchangeable and cannot be exchanged with other items. In contrast, fungible items, such as fiat currencies, can be exchanged because their value defines them rather than their unique properties.

 
VEZEETA PROFILE

Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
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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

MATCH INFO

Who: France v Italy
When: Friday, 11pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports

Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics

 

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

What is the definition of an SME?

SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.

A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.