Last month, Dubai Culture – the emirate's agency that supports the arts and cultural heritage across Dubai – launched a programme to financially assist the emirate's galleries exhibiting in fairs around the world.
The aim of the International Art Fairs Grant is to raise the global profile of Emirati artists and strengthen Dubai’s position as a centre for the creative economy. The grant is open to emerging and established UAE-based artists, with an emphasis on promoting Emirati talent alongside artists who have established a residence in the UAE for no less than three years.
This could, in turn, empower local galleries, create a name for Emirati art and also set in place a sustainable cultural ecosystem in the UAE.
A key component of the grant is the financial assistance mechanism, which covers between a third and 50 per cent of the exhibition costs – which can otherwise be prohibitively expensive – for galleries at international art fairs. The eligibility criteria govern that galleries maintain a full-time presence in Dubai and engage in activities beyond their gallery space, such as presenting work at prestigious institutions, and thus includes participation in international art fairs.
Emirati artists have the opportunity to add their first-hand perspectives to the global art salons
The grant, then, is intended to create opportunities for both artists and galleries in establishing a permanent, active presence in Dubai’s evolving cultural landscape, as well as strengthening connections to the global art market.
Dr Saeed Mubarak bin Kharbash, the chief executive of the Arts and Literature at Dubai Culture said the grant was essential to enhance Dubai’s position in the international art community. Dubai’s cultural hub status, according to Dr Kharbash, also arises from a lively art scene sustained by local galleries.
There are some notable parallels to this initiative with other global efforts. Initiatives like the Australia Council for the Arts’s funding for Australian galleries and artists to exhibit at international art fairs, and the British Council’s international art programmes, provide financial support to local artists to showcase their work overseas.
Both these programmes seek to elevate their countries’ cultural profiles, support local artists and facilitate opportunities for these artists to participate in global dialogue. But what sets the Dubai Culture initiative apart is its emphasis on Emirati artists and the long-term goals of the UAE as a productive force in the creative economy.
Whereas both the Australian and British models appear to offer support to a wide range of artists from different backgrounds, the Dubai Culture grant is very much about prioritising artists who have a direct connection with the country’s cultural capital, therefore helping to forge a distinctive cultural identity on the world stage.
Moreover, this grant seeks to tackle some structural issues that UAE-based galleries and artists face including the high costs of international art fairs as well as the difficulty of trying to establish a permanent presence in global art markets.
The grant's provision of all booth costs through subsidy is a significant relief that consequently lessens the burden on smaller or unknown galleries that might otherwise have challenges finding their way into a global marketplace, especially considering the usually substantial price of entry. That is all the more true of galleries with emerging artists or artists of colour, who don’t have the financial wherewithal to compete on equal terms with the top-tier international players.
But there are points at which the grant could be enhanced further. While the programme's concentration on supporting galleries with a permanent presence in Dubai makes sense, expanding eligibility to accommodate other types of participation – like temporary exhibitions or pop-up galleries – could create opportunities for a broader cross-section of artists and venues.
This would better represent the dynamic, flexible nature of contemporary art markets, in which pop-up events and non-traditional real estate often take prime position in showcasing innovative work. Moreover, given that the art world is inherently global in nature, it would also be helpful to give the opportunity of this grant not just to galleries but also to artists, especially those who are not gallery-affiliated but are still making great contributions to the UAE culture.
In a similar vein, the impact of the International Art Fairs Grant could be magnified through offering some additional services for those receiving it, such as mentorship programmes or networking opportunities for the artists and galleries.
This would accredit the monetary functions of the grant in so far as recipients are provided with the tools that facilitate their international reach and engagement with global collectors, curators and institutions. Such programmes could enable a more holistic approach to making Dubai's art scene even more international, beyond financial assistance, building long-term relationships and collaborations that will pay lasting dividends for the city's cultural economy.
The impact of the grant can be measured not just through the ability to give but also through the ability to open a national conversation about the use of art in activism. International art fairs are prime real estate for artists to be seen by new audiences and connect with other creative people.
Thus, Emirati artists have the opportunity to add their first-hand perspectives to the global art salons, one that could lead to shifts in the understanding of contemporary art on a global scale.
There is no doubt the grant can be a powerful new way to position Dubai on the cultural map. Its support of galleries and artists is a welcome development, but a wider engagement could further its reach and effectiveness. With continued investment in local talent and global connections, Dubai can keep its art scene at the forefront of international exchange.
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.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday Stuttgart v Cologne (Kick-off 10.30pm UAE)
Saturday RB Leipzig v Hertha Berlin (5.30pm)
Mainz v Borussia Monchengladbach (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Union Berlin v SC Freiburg (5.30pm)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (5.30pm)
Sunday Wolfsburg v Arminia (6.30pm)
Werder Bremen v Hoffenheim (9pm)
Bayer Leverkusen v Augsburg (11.30pm)
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday
Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm kick-off UAE)
Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Cologne (5.30pm)
Mainz v Arminia Bielefeld (5.30pm)
Augsburg v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Bayern Munich (8.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Freiburg (10.30pm)
Sunday
VfB Stuttgart v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Union Berlin v Hertha Berlin (8pm)
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 five types of long-term residential visas
Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
Outstanding students:
A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university.
Retirees:
Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
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Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Essentials
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Match info
Deccan Gladiators 87-8
Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16
Maratha Arabians 89-2
Chadwick Walton 51 not out
Arabians won the final by eight wickets
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA
Price, base / as tested Dh150,900 / Dh173,600
Engine 2.0L inline four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 211hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 1,200rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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Another way to earn air miles
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
Tenet
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh
Rating: 5/5
