Combining art and science is not that common but Heba Barazi, who is originally from Syria, manages to do just that.
The science professor at Zayed University has always had a passion to create with her hands and, as a result, she has made her own jewellery line inspired by the Middle East.
“My art became really elevated after I started to actually bring in emotion and what is interesting to me, instead of just doing stuff because it’s pretty,” said the 49-year-old Abu Dhabi resident. “That’s where it started – when I wanted to include a concept that was dear to me in my work.”
She started with a collection of rings inspired by Syria in 2014. “I sat down with myself and asked, ‘what’s so important to me that I would want to express in my art?’,” Ms Barazi said. “The whole concept of doing rings came from a verse from the Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani, stating, ‘I am a ring jewelled by Damascus’. So I created nine rings that people can wear and take this message with them about Syria.”
Each ring design was inspired by one of Qabbani’s verses.
“They all represent parts of nature in Syria which is very significant,” she said. “It’s almost like an artist bringing out the art of somebody else.”
Her message also aims to put Syria on the map. “I lived in the United States for 30 years and people really didn’t know where or what Syria was, even though it’s the oldest civilisation on Earth,” she said. “They only know her now because of the war but they don’t understand what civilisation, culture, intellect, art, poetry and history there is there, as well as all this beautiful nature. So these rings really bring about both concepts that it’s not just war and by reminding people of all these messages, you bring back humanity.”
Her next collection, Sheikh Zayed Jewels, which was launched last year, is based on the UAE’s message of tolerance.
“When I think of Sheikh Zayed’s prime jewel, I think of the Grand Mosque because it’s not only an incredible piece of architecture but the concept of the mosque is about tolerance,” she said. “If you read the mission of the mosque, it’s not just a building where people pray, it’s an organisation that seeks to share information and bridge the gap between different religions.
“They opened their door like no other mosque did in the region – it promotes mutual understanding of what Islam is between other religions and that’s the epitome of tolerance.”
Each ornament in the collection represents the three lotus flowers adorning the mosque’s 1,048 pillars.
“I wanted to capture them, so I created it in 3D and they can be placed as a display or as a brooch, so it’s like people are taking that significant symbol of the mosque with them, which is in turn a symbol of tolerance,” she said, adding that jewellery is the perfect type of art to communicate concepts with.
“It’s the kind of object of art that you can form a lot of intimacy with because you carry it with you. It’s not like a painting on a wall. You’re carrying your passions with you and the objects give you an opportunity to talk about them because people notice them.”
The UAE’s openness marked her when she first moved to Abu Dhabi six years ago. “The only place in the Gulf where I’ve lived in Saudi Arabia and because I didn’t live in the Middle East much, that’s what really hit me in the face here,” she said. “I had no idea a Gulf country could be so open and welcoming and I loved living here. It sets an example to all other Arab countries, so I felt a very emotional connection to it and I felt very compelled to do a collection on the UAE.”
Ms Barazi also tries to incorporate her passion in the classroom. “My students love it,” she said. “I teach microbiology and one of the projects the students have to work through is creating a work of art using agar plants.”
Her collections can be seen at www.hebabarazi.com and at an art gallery in Nations Tower in Abu Dhabi.
Bio
Country of origin: Syria
Place of birth: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Education: Riyadh School for Girls in Saudi Arabia,
George Washington University in Washington DC. BSC in medical technology, PhD in molecular biology
Career: Previously at the National Cancer Institute in Washington, now as an assistant professor at the college of science and natural health at Zayed University
Marital status: Married with three children
Favourite pastime: I like to make stuff, I'm a maker
Life-long goal: I'd like to find a niche where I can bring science and art together in an applied way.
Poacher
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The biog
Name: Greg Heinricks
From: Alberta, western Canada
Record fish: 56kg sailfish
Member of: International Game Fish Association
Company: Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
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'Cheb%20Khaled'
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Results
- Brock Lesnar retained the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns
- Braun Strowman and Nicolas won the Raw Tag Team titles against Sheamus and Cesaro
- AJ Styles retained the WWE World Heavyweight title against Shinsuke Nakamura
- Nia Jax won the Raw Women’s title against Alexa Bliss
- Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon beat Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
- The Undertaker beat John Cena
- The Bludgeon Brothers won the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos and New Day
- Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle beat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon
- Jinder Mahal won the United States title against Randy Orton, Rusev and Bobby Roode
- Charlotte retained the SmackDown Women’s title against Asuka
- Seth Rollins won the Intercontinental title against The Miz and Finn Balor
- Naomi won the first WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal
- Cedric Alexander won the vacant Cruiserweight title against Mustafa Ali
- Matt Hardy won the Andre the Giant Battle Royal
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
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.
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Company%20Profile
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Fixtures (all in UAE time)
Friday
Everton v Burnley 11pm
Saturday
Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur 3.30pm
West Ham United v Southampton 6pm
Wolves v Fulham 6pm
Cardiff City v Crystal Palace 8.30pm
Newcastle United v Liverpool 10.45pm
Sunday
Chelsea v Watford 5pm
Huddersfield v Manchester United 5pm
Arsenal v Brighton 7.30pm
Monday
Manchester City v Leicester City 11pm
