Art can be a powerful tool. It can inform and inspire, tell a story through words unspoken, and shed light on important issues. At this year’s Art Dubai, Palestinian artists are doing just that.
Fourteen Palestinian artists from across generations and mediums will showcase stories of preservation, tradition and survival to international audiences at Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah from April 18 to 20.
“These presentations focus largely around tradition and preservation – of cultures, customs and perspectives,” says Pablo del Val, who has served as Art Dubai’s artistic director since 2015. “What stands out so beautifully in the work of Palestinian artists this year is a deep connection to roots and heritage. Each piece speaks to those ties, and you can see it across the works featured.”
Speaking to The National, Mr del Val emphasises that these artists chose not to focus on themes of war, conflict or destruction, but rather on the conservation of culture – or “the preservation of something that is in a struggle for existence”.
Mr del Val singles out several artists bringing powerful works to the fair. These include Tarik Kiswanson, whose sculptures retrace stories of displacement through the lens of his own family’s history and Saudi-Palestinian artist Dana Awartani’s Standing by the Ruins installation of patterned flooring that, on closer look, replicates the geometric designs of Gaza’s historic Qasr Al Basha.
The selection also features masters of the 1980s New Visions movement, including Nabil Anani and Sliman Mansour, who united at the height of the first intifada to inspire freedom and autonomy through their works.
Now opening its 18th edition, the annual art fair has become a focal point for themes of identity, discovery and expression, resonating most deeply with artist in regions often overlooked by art fairs in the West. Art Dubai welcomes galleries from across the Middle East, Africa and regions including Latin America for a distinctive and diverse showcase each year.
“It holds a unique place in the region, bringing audiences together who can connect with the political and emotional layers of my work without the need for over-explanation,” says artist Mirna Bamieh, who will be presenting a personal offering about grief, memory and land at Nika Project Space’s booth this year. “Since relocating to Portugal after the [start of the Gaza] war, returning to Art Dubai feels like a kind of grounding, a way to stay connected, present and in conversation with the region.”
For her second participation in the fair, Bamieh is showing pieces as part of larger installations titled Grieving in Colours and Sour Jars. “In Grieving in Colours, I was navigating personal displacement while witnessing the horrors in Gaza unfold, and I needed a material that could hold that pain without demanding language,” the artists says. “Ceramics allowed me to express grief through form, through collapse, weight, and transformation.”
Bamieh's work centres around the Jaffa orange, a powerful symbol in Palestinian memory and resistance. Inspired by her heritage – her paternal family originates from Jaffa – the orange is symbol across Palestinian literature and visual culture. It has come to signify the “rupture of 1948 and the ongoing loss of land”, she explains.
“These oranges decay, ferment, and dissolve into each other. They say grief moves in stages, but mine arrived all at once – dense, suffocating and sour,” she adds.
Sfeir-Semler Gallery is representing several Palestinian artists and artists of Palestinian descent at this year’s fair. Founded by Andree Sfeir-Semler in 1985, the gallery has championed art from the Arab world, providing a cultural link between western and Middle Eastern contemporary art practices, for decades. In addition to works by Dana Awartani, the gallery brings a diverse collection of works by Taysir Batniji, Bayan Kiwan and Samia Halaby, a celebrated global trailblazer of contemporary abstract art.
“Every single artist we chose to collaborate with is first and foremost an artist who has something urgent and critical to say,” says Sfeir-Semler. “It is heartbreaking that the same concerns find their ways in their works across generations. And how can it be otherwise? Even with those who are removed from the land, they are consistently trying to bridge this gap of space and time.”
Represented by Dubai's Tabari Artspace, Palestinian American Saj Issa brings her story to life through a solo presentation comprising ceramic amphoras, tiles and paintings that invites viewers to explore themes of longing and memory. Her showcase, Never Make a Wish in a Dry Well, is created from a lived experience.
After a visit to her family home in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, Saj brought back shards of 10th-century pottery she found near a former ceramics factory.
“She didn’t just preserve them – she pulled them into her process, fusing them into glazes or sealing them in glass,” says Maliha Tabari, the founder of Tabari Artspace. “It’s a powerful gesture: reclaiming history not as a fixed past, but something she’s actively reshaping.”
For Mr del Val, these presentations were not chosen for an “agenda”, but purely for their quality. They naturally align with the fair’s broader themes and discussions around immigration, including displacement, or global issues such as climate change.
“I believe the selection is fantastic,” he says. “It’s beautiful to see the rising consciousness of Palestine as a culture with an enduring tradition and an undeniable right to exist. It’s about preserving and surviving.”
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
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The bio:
Favourite holiday destination: I really enjoyed Sri Lanka and Vietnam but my dream destination is the Maldives.
Favourite food: My mum’s Chinese cooking.
Favourite film: Robocop, followed by The Terminator.
Hobbies: Off-roading, scuba diving, playing squash and going to the gym.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Spare
Profile
Company name: Spare
Started: March 2018
Co-founders: Dalal Alrayes and Saurabh Shah
Based: UAE
Sector: FinTech
Investment: Own savings. Going for first round of fund-raising in March 2019
WORLD CUP FINAL
England v South Africa
Yokohama International Stadium, Tokyo
Saturday, kick-off 1pm (UAE)
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
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
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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
Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
SPAIN SQUAD
Goalkeepers Simon (Athletic Bilbao), De Gea (Manchester United), Sanchez (Brighton)
Defenders Gaya (Valencia), Alba (Barcelona), P Torres (Villarreal), Laporte (Manchester City), Garcia (Manchester City), D Llorente (Leeds), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Midfielders Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Thiago (Liverpool), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Ruiz (Napoli), M Llorente (Atletico Madrid)
Forwards: Olmo (RB Leipzig), Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Morata (Juventus), Moreno (Villarreal), F Torres (Manchester City), Traore (Wolves), Sarabia (PSG)
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
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Ferrari
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The biog
Age: 32
Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.
Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas
Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska
Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
The Disaster Artist
Director: James Franco
Starring: James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogan
Four stars
if you go
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
HAJJAN
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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
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Awar Qalb
Director: Jamal Salem
Starring: Abdulla Zaid, Joma Ali, Neven Madi and Khadija Sleiman
Two stars
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
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