Egyptian architect-turned production designer Mohamed Attia has worked with many of the country’s acclaimed film directors, including the late Mohamed Khan, Yousry Nasrallah, Tarek Alarian and Marwan Hamed.
But he never expected the brief given to him a year and a half ago: design the visual aspects of a parade that will transport 22 royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo's Tahrir Square to their new resting place at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation.
"I was very happy that the officials trusted me to do such a job. But at the same time, I was so worried about the big responsibility and it was something I've never done before," Attia, 48, tells The National.
It was something I've never done before
The monumental task included transforming army trucks into climate-controlled floats decorated in pharaonic style, recreating ancient Egyptian boats and carriages, lighting the parade route and designing majestic gates.
He need not have worried; the spectacular Pharaohs' Golden Parade that took place on April 3 garnered positive reviews from around the world and instilled nationalistic pride among Egyptians.
Attia is an example of the homegrown talent that was showcased to a global audience on that day, as Egypt highlighted its ancient heritage and signaled to the world that its was open to tourists.
“It was one of the highlights of my career,” he says.
From dentistry to cinema
The journey that led Attia to the mummies parade was a winding one.
As a university student he spent five months studying dentistry at Cairo University before deciding it was not for him.
“It was the dream of my family for me to become a doctor, but I love architecture,” he recalls.
He transferred to the Faculty of Fine Arts in Zamalek and in his first year did an internship on the set of Al Mohager (The Emigrant), a 1994 film directed by Youssef Chahine.
He “started falling in love with cinema” but finished his studies in architecture in 1995 and began work as a draftsman in France.
“I believe that any production designer in the cinema has to have an architectural background through education or experience,” he says.
Still, architecture was not his true calling.
“I suffered working there. It was so depressing for me.”
After over three years of producing drawings, he jumped on the opportunity to return to Cairo to help renovate buildings at the 1930s-era production complex Studio Misr.
It was there that he met production designer and art director Salah Marei, who encouraged him to make a career change and introduced him to film director Khan.
In parallel Attia established his own film production design company called 35 Champollion Studio, named after its address in Downtown Cairo.
“I was so lucky,” he says. “My first chance was with Mohamed Khan, who was one of the biggest names in the 80s and 90s.”
Attia worked on three films with Khan followed by two films with Nasrallah.
More recently, Attia has been the production designer on four films by Palestinian-Egyptian director Tarek Alarian and another four from young director Marwan Hamad.
A new challenge
For Attia, the parade presented a unique challenge: creating an event that is not “kitsch” or “cliché” and reflects the prestige of a royal procession.
“We didn’t have a zero line based on references. The closest thing one could compare it to is the Rio de Janeiro carnival or Venice carnival, but this was more of a celebration of a deep history,” Attia says.
“There is a sense of respect and magnificence, more than a colourful party for the masses.”
He emphasises that the production design was a team effort, including his entire events company Kokoro and 35 people outsourced from elsewhere.
Other challenges included contending with delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and operating within a limited budget.
“Army trucks are not the best solution for a designer – they’re bulky. But we didn’t have the budget to buy or rent 22 cars just for the parade,” he says.
Decorated in black and gold, each lorry included the name of the king or queen written in English, Arabic and hieroglyphics. The mummies were protected in nitrogen-sealed capsules.
The event “renewed the link between contemporary Egyptians and their pharaonic ancestors”, Attia says, and the positive reviews gave Egyptians a “confidence boost”.
“We have this assumption that Egyptians can’t put on a big event like this – that we have to get foreigners from abroad. But I believe there was pride and joy that Egyptians can do this.”
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El Anany said there are plans to hold another royal parade later this year to transfer King Tutankhamun to the yet-to-be-opened Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza.
Would Attia take part again if asked?
“Of course,” he says, without missing a beat.
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
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Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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 bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
'Morbius'
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona
Rating: 2/5
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
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Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
If you go
The Flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Johannesburg from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. Economy return tickets cost from Dh2,650, including taxes.
The trip
Worldwide Motorhoming Holidays (worldwidemotorhomingholidays.co.uk) operates fly-drive motorhome holidays in eight destinations, including South Africa. Its 14-day Kruger and the Battlefields itinerary starts from Dh17,500, including campgrounds, excursions, unit hire and flights. Bobo Campers has a range of RVs for hire, including the 4-berth Discoverer 4 from Dh600 per day.
Director: Paul Weitz
Stars: Kevin Hart
3/5 stars
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Scores in brief:
Boost Defenders 205-5 in 20 overs
(Colin Ingram 84 not out, Cameron Delport 36, William Somerville 2-28)
bt Auckland Aces 170 for 5 in 20 overs
(Rob O’Donnell 67 not out, Kyle Abbott 3-21).
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.
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
Schedule for Asia Cup
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
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Price: From Dh590,000
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
more from Janine di Giovanni
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
The years Ramadan fell in May
