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What's On
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- What's On
13 relaxing things to plan in the UAE for next week's long weekend
A long weekend is coming soon, which means more time to do the things you've been putting off. If you're a culture crawler, art enthusiast or just generally want a relaxed, slow weekend. there is no shortage of experiences across the UAE. Take your pick. For the art aficionados Catch an art exhibition at The Third Line Sunrise At The Vortex, the second solo exhibition by artist Nima Nabavi on display at The Third Line, features a selection of new works made by the artist between 2022 and 2025. The pieces are rooted in his travels to sites across the world considered to be energy centers by different communities. Offer: Free entry Location: The Third Line, Alserkal Avenue Times: Until July 27, daily, 11am to 7pm Contact: ( 0) 4 341 1367 @thethirdlinedxb Discover stunning art for less at The Louvre Louvre Abu Dhabi is welcoming visitors for less this summer season. UAE residents can get a 30% discount on tickets for the summer season when booking online. Valid until September 30. One ticket gives you access to the museum galleries, exhibitions, outdoor plazas underneath the dome, museum café, Fouquet's Abu Dhabi and boutique. Book your spot here. Offer: Residents get 30% off Location: Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island Timings: Until September 30 Contact: (600) 565566 @louvreabudhabi Do a pottery workshop at The Workshop The Workshop is hosting a coil pottery workshop, hosted by Shahid Malik. At the workshop, you'll learn everything it is you need to know about making coil pots, one of the oldest forms of pottery dating back 10,000 years. All materials to be provided by the workshop. Offer: Dhs294 per person Location: The Workshop Dubai, Jumeirah Timings: Sunday, June 29, 6.30pm to 8.30pm Contact: (0) 4 341 2595 @louvreabudhabi For the culture crawlers Discover the Silk Road at Bait Elowal Bait Elowal in Sharjah is a cultural hotspot, if there ever was one. The restaurant cum concept store cum library marries the rich trading legacy of Sharjah with the colourful past of the Silk Road, a concept awakened with Emirati identity, values and customs. Read all about it here. Location: Bait Elowal, Al Marija, Sharjah Timings: Saturday to Thursday, 8am to 11pm, Friday, 8am to 12pm, 1pm to 11pm Contact: (0) 6 509 0666 @baitelowal Explore a heritage village at Al Jazeera Al Hamra This stunning heritage village is the only remaining historical pearling village in the entire Gulf region; the rest were demolished with the discovery of oil. The neighbourhood is incredibly quintessential, with all the elements like a fort and watchtowers, mosque, souq and extensive courtyard houses of various designs. Location: Jazeera Al Hamra, Ras Al Khaimah Contact: @visitrasalkhaimah Get lost in a library at Mohammed Bin Rashid Library This is one structure you won't miss when you drive by it. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library is located by the Al Jaddaf Waterfront and is designed to look like a book on a giant rehl, which is the wooden stand that holds the Quran when it is read– quite appropriate for a library. Location: Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, Al Jaddaf Timings: Saturday to Thursday, 9am to 9pm, Friday, 7pm to 9pm, closed on Sundays Contact: ( 800) 627523 @mbrlae For the beach babies Do a night swim at DRIFT Beach For the first time ever, guests can take a dip in the stunning infinity pool and stroll the beach after dark. Running every Friday and Saturday from 7pm to midnight, this elegant evening experience comes with chilled beats, upscale vibes, and a fully redeemable Dhs200 entry on food and drinks. Offer: Dhs200 Location: DRIFT Beach, Dubai Marina Timings: Friday and Saturday, 7pm to 12am Contact: (0) 4 315 2200 @driftbeachdubai Go boundless swimming at Nessnass Beach Jumeirah Public Beach, also lovingly known by locals as Nessnass Beach, is a serene stretch of sand and pristine waters, and the hotspot for watersports in Dubai. It's one of the few beaches in the city that allows night swimming, with powerful floodlights and lifeguards watching out at all times making this possible. Do an ice bath workshop at AURA Skypool AURA Skypool is hosting an ice bath workshop every Saturday morning, perfect to relax and recharge. Immerse yourself in the power of breathwork and meditation to cultivate inner calm and clarity followed by a healthy and nutritious breakfast. Offer: Dhs475 per person Location: AURA Skypool, The Palm Tower Timings: Saturdays, 7.45am to 9am Contact: (0) 4 566 2121 @ For the wellness fiends Have a dreamy spa day at Talise Spa Talise Spa at Madinat Jumeirah is offering a weekend spa day pass – think a 60-minute bespoke aromatherapy massage and complimentary access to all spa facilities including sauna, steam room, warm and cold plunge pools and adult only spa swimming pool. For that much needed TLC. Offer: Dhs980 per person Location: Talise Spa, Madinat Jumeirah Timings: Saturdays and Sundays Contact: (0) 4 366 6818 @talisespa Take a sound healing class at SOHUM Wellness SOHUM Wellness is offering Pyramid Sound Healing and Journaling classes for those who want to try something new and connect with their deepest chakras. Inside the pyramid, crystal frequencies and guided meditation will help guests realign their chakras, while deep journaling uncovers the emotional layers within. Offer: Dhs210 per person Location: SOHUM Wellness, Al Quoz Timings: Saturdays Contact: (0) 4 397 0271 @ For the movie and theatre buffs Catch a movie at Cinema Akil Everyone's favourite independent arthouse cinema and the go-to spot for alternative watching is bringing a curation that's hot like the summer we're in right now – big, bold and bizarre films that will make you feel more deeply than you ever have, from heady trips to moody flicks and a mind-bending, mind-boggling sci-fi flick. Offer: Dhs56.70 per ticket Location: Cinema Akil, Alserkal Avenue Timings: Find the schedule here Contact: (0) 56 995 1225 @cinemaakil Catch a play at The Junction Nikolai Gogol's The Government Inspector is a razor-sharp satire that skewers corruption, exposes absurdity, and delivers laughs in every scene. The plot follows a case of mistaken identity and a town full of corrupt, greedy officials. Comedy and satire combined – what more do you need. Offer: Dhs120 per ticket Location: The Junction, Alserkal Avenue Timings: June 27 to 29, 7pm to 10pm Contact: (0) 4 338 8525 @cinemaakil Images: Socials
The National
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Weekly UAE museum and gallery guide: Masterpieces at Christie's and a Turner-nominated work in Sharjah
Art Dubai may have concluded, but the local scene is maintaining the momentum. A Christie's exhibition of modern and contemporary Middle Eastern masterpieces and a solo exhibition by Egyptian artist Huda Lutfi are among the highlights in the city. There is also lots to see in other emirates, including a solo show by Saudi artist Abdullah Al Othman and a presentation at the Sharjah Biennial that is in the running for the Turner Prize. The Christie's auction of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art has returned with an all-star selection. The sale is a potent representation of the diverse practices shaping the region's contemporary art. There are works that represent Nadia Saikali's gestural abstraction, the kaleidoscopic dynamism of Samia Halaby, the rippling portraits of Marwan, the calligraphic experimentations of Mohamed Melehi, Malika Agueznay and Dia Azzawi, as well as paintings by Helen Khal that show her figurative beginnings, and the ethereal canvases she is particularly known for. Other notable figures featured in the auction include Inji Efflatoun, Kamal Boullata, Etel Adnan, Aref El Rayess, Laila Shawa, Paul Guiragossian, Nabil Anani, Fateh Moudarres and Yvette Achkar. Monday to Friday, 10am-7pm; Saturday and Sunday, 12pm-5pm; until May 8, Christie's Dubai Lutfi is known for her cross-disciplinary practice that draws from historical research as well as feminist critique. Her fourth solo exhibition at The Third Line brings together works from three recent series. These include When Dreams Call for Silence (2019), which presents human figures in surreal domestic scenes. In Our Black Thread (2020–2021), Lutfi explores how creating is an act of healing. The series began as Lutfi casually wove threads from used teabags and car filters. The minimalist compositions, with their restrained monochromatic palette, 'amplify the introspective meditation that fuelled their making', the exhibition guide states, 'but also evoke the historical association of craftsmanship as feminine labour and its complex relationship to art'. This approach is sustained in her continuing series Healing Devices, which feature organic and geometric paper cutouts set against gold and silver backdrops. The series draws from the illustrations in The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices, a 1206 work by the Arab polymath Ismail Al-Jazari. Monday to Sunday, 11am-7pm; until May 27, The Third Line, Dubai This presentation from the 2025 Sharjah Biennial has been nominated for the Turner Prize. The work was created by Korean-Canadian artist Zadie Xa, in collaboration with Spanish artist Benito Mayor Vallejo. It features several disparate elements, which take cues from Korean shamanic traditions. These include paintings and a chandelier-like piece comprising more than 1,000 brass bells arranged in the shape of a conch shell. Saturday to Thursday, 9am-9pm; Friday 4pm-9pm; until June 15; Al Hamriyah Studios, Sharjah Al Othman's work is greatly informed by the visual language of the region's cities. The Saudi artist is known to wander around Riyadh, collecting materials and images from its architecture and linguistic history that he then incorporates into his work. Structural Syntax is his first solo show in the UAE. The exhibition is designed to steep visitors in Al Othman's unique perception of urban landscapes and prompt questions about the way we navigate our surroundings. Works include Anticipation, which makes use of neon lights, a material with which Al Othman has become synonymous. His Untitled (Coca Cola) playfully appropriates the brand in an installation featuring a sign in Arabic, industrial materials, metal and paint. Monday to Friday, 11am-7pm; until June 27; Iris Projects, Abu Dhabi
Web Release
16-04-2025
- Business
- Web Release
Art Dubai to Launch 18th Edition Amid Surge in UAE Wealth
Art Dubai is set to return for its 18th edition next week, promising an invigorated showcase of contemporary art against the backdrop of Dubai's growing reputation as a cultural and financial hub. Running from April 16, with a VIP preview, at the Madinat Jumeirah, this year's fair will feature over 120 galleries, accompanied by a slate of new commissions, digital installations, and panel discussions — all aimed at exploring the interplay between culture and technology within today's art world. Since its founding in 2007, Art Dubai has positioned itself as far more than just a commercial fair. It has evolved into a creative incubator where regional voices meet global audiences, cementing its identity as a cultural bridge within the Middle East. This year's edition arrives at a moment when Dubai's art scene is experiencing newfound momentum, propelled by regional biennials and festivals that are putting the spotlight on Gulf art. Recent additions to the region's cultural calendar — including the Sharjah Biennial, which held its 16th edition in February, and Saudi Arabia's second Islamic Arts Biennale, launched this January — reflect the Middle East's ambitious vision to develop as an international arts destination. Events such as the AlUla Arts Festival and Art Week Riyadh further solidify Saudi Arabia and the UAE's standing as serious players in the global cultural landscape. This surge in cultural programming has not gone unnoticed by international galleries. Among this year's first-time exhibitors is New York-based Bortolami Gallery, whose participation signals growing Western interest in the region's market and creative networks. Senior director Evan Reiser described their presence at the fair as an 'exploratory mission' to better understand local collectors, meet artists, and assess future opportunities. 'We have to try to understand the market ahead of time and understand what people are looking for, meeting the obligation to our artists to introduce their work to new audiences,' Reiser noted. The gallery will present works by an impressive roster of artists including Daniel Buren, Robert Bordo, and Leda Catunda, providing visitors a diverse glimpse into contemporary art's global landscape. As Dubai's art fair matures, its local gallery scene is expanding in tandem. Sunny Rahbar, founder of The Third Line — one of the city's pioneering contemporary art galleries — notes the accelerating pace of growth. 'The art scene is booming,' Rahbar told ARTnews. 'So many galleries have opened in the last three or four years.' She attributes the post-pandemic surge to Dubai's swift reopening to tourism and its global reputation for resilience. Dubai's appeal has drawn not only Western collectors but also a wave of Arab expatriates, from Lebanon, Egypt, and Iran, who now see the UAE as both a cultural and economic home. Reflecting that sentiment, The Third Line will exhibit works by Amir H. Fallah, Hayv Kahraman, and Kamran Samimi at this year's fair — each representing contemporary voices from the Middle East and its diaspora. Art Dubai has become a symbol of the UAE's larger economic diversification strategy. Once heavily dependent on oil, the UAE's government has worked for more than a decade to reposition the Emirates as a cultural and business hub for the region. Landmark initiatives, such as the Saadiyat Island cultural district — home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the future Guggenheim Abu Dhabi — are testament to the country's commitment to investing in the arts. Non-oil sectors now account for nearly 75% of the UAE's GDP, with non-oil growth reaching 4.6% last year and projected to climb to 5% in 2025. Art Dubai, while modest in size compared to global fairs like Art Basel, continues to mirror this economic momentum and offers collectors, galleries, and artists an increasingly attractive gateway to the Middle Eastern art market. As Mohammed Hafiz, cofounder of Jeddah-based ATHR gallery, puts it: 'The art market in Dubai, like the economy, is growing — it's maturing. You can't compare the UAE or Saudi Arabia to New York, of course, but, like anywhere in the art world, you travel to meet people and build relationships, and these relationships grow with time.' This growth isn't confined to art alone. The rise in high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) is reshaping Dubai's luxury ecosystem. A report by New World Wealth and Henley & Partners predicted a 39% surge in the number of HNWIs in the UAE between 2021 and 2026, from 160,000 to more than 228,000. Dubai itself has seen the number of millionaires double over the past decade, with forecasts suggesting this figure will double again by 2035. 'This is already impacting favorably on the luxury market in the region and will only stand to benefit Art Dubai and the galleries here in Dubai, which is very much the center of the Gulf and regional art market,' said Ben Floyd, CEO of Art Dubai Group. To further strengthen its international profile, Art Dubai recently announced two significant leadership hires. Dunja Gottweis, formerly Art Basel's global head of gallery relations, was appointed as the new fair director, while Alexie Glass-Kantor, previously executive director of Artspace in Sydney, has stepped into the newly created role of executive director, curatorial. These appointments are already generating increased attention from collectors, partners, and galleries eager to enter the region's art market. Much like Hong Kong's transformation into a gateway for global art and commerce, Dubai's blend of free trade zones, world-class security, and British-style legal frameworks continues to attract international talent and investment. Art Dubai, as both a cultural and commercial platform, is poised to evolve into a vital meeting ground for the international art world and a key barometer for the Gulf's flourishing creative economy.
