Manatees at the National Aquarium in Abu Dhabi
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The National
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What's driving new generation of Arab musicians to greatness?
This week on Culture Bites, host Farah Andrews chats with her colleagues at The National about the UAE's cultural representation in Japan, and the regional music scene. Gaming and Culture Reporter Faisal Al Zaabi joins Farah to talk about exploring the UAE pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. The exhibit invites visitors to appreciate the country's past, present and future and is designed to evoke their senses through scent, sound and touch. Faisal described the nostalgia evoked by the fragrance of two million date palm fronds, arranged into towering columns. He and Farah also discuss the evolution of the UAE pavilion since Expo 2020 Dubai. In music, a new generation of rich and diverse talent is driving the industry to new heights. Music Reporter Saeed Saeed talks about the creative renaissance in the Middle East and North Africa that is making it the fastest-growing music market. Saeed will be hosting Tarab, a new podcast from The National featuring powerful voices from across the region, such as Lebanese artist Yasmine Hamdan and Palestinian singer Lina Makhoul.
The National
13 hours ago
- The National
Omani designer goes viral for hyper-realistic video game set in 1900s Gulf
Clips from a video game demo have gone viral among enthusiasts in the Gulf over the past several weeks. They show what looks to be an open-world game set in Oman, following a man dressed in the country's traditional thoob and distinctive headwear. The clips were posted by the game's designer, Almohannad Alwhaibi, a 24-year-old virtual-reality expert from Muscat who revealed he originally had no intention of making the game in full. 'It was actually just an experiment,' he told The National. 'My strength is in making realistic games, mainly so people get to know me and my work. "I worked on it for two or three weeks, along with my colleague, who is a designer. Together, we built it from scratch. I decided to post it on Instagram just to show people my work.' There's no story yet, but Alwhaibi knows the path he wants to follow. 'I want it to be story-based,' he said. 'The player will explore areas and solve puzzles while following the story. Some people suggested adding light horror or mild action. That's something we haven't fully planned yet.' The demo clips and images show that emphasis has been placed on replicating familiar and unique Omani landscapes. 'I want the story to draw from Omani heritage and folklore, from the days before cars,' added Alwhaibi. 'Many old stories include horror, action or significant events, so I expect the game's timeline to be set in that kind of era.' In his day-to-day job, Alwhaibi assists government entities in Oman with developing virtual-reality concepts. Despite only being at the early stages of development, the game could be made ready to play within a year, Alwhaibi said, if he receives the right support and investment. 'It will be a simple game, but it will also showcase the strength of Arabs, and Omanis in particular, in game development,' he added. He is committed to retaining autonomy and control. 'I would prefer getting investment, joining a ready-made team, or collaborating with another company,' Alwhaibi explained. 'But I won't hand over full ownership. I'd like to continue the game with support while keeping ownership. I would also consider collaborating with studios in Saudi Arabia or the UAE. 'I'm not committed to having only Omanis. There are very few skilled people here in realistic game development. So, I'll need a team from outside – Gulf-based or elsewhere – as long as they can follow the scenario with me.' Alwhaibi wants the game to demonstrate his passion for his country and culture. 'Attention to detail drives me – the environment, the trees, the sand, the clothing,' he explained. 'I aim to make a game that's highly realistic but optimised so it runs on all devices, even weaker ones, at 60 frames per second. That's always my focus: realism and optimisation.'
Broadcast Pro
a day ago
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Luxor African Film Festival opens submissions for 15th edition
Submissions are open until November 25, 2025, for films produced in 2025 that have not yet been screened in Egypt. The Luxor African Film Festival (LAFF) has officially opened submissions for its 15th edition, which will be held from March 30 to April 5, 2026, in Luxor, southern Egypt. The festival, founded by screenwriter Sayed Fouad, will once again celebrate the richness of African cinema while providing a platform for emerging and established filmmakers across the continent and the diaspora. Film entries are now being accepted across four main competitions. The Long Films Competition will showcase narrative, documentary and animated features over 60 minutes, while the Short Films Competition will highlight short-form works in the same categories. Both competitions are exclusively open to African directors. The Diaspora Films Competition invites submissions from African filmmakers living abroad whose works address Africa from a global perspective. In addition, the Youth Films Competition is dedicated to young filmmakers from the governorates of Qena and Luxor. Azza El Hosseiny, Founder and Director of LAFF, said: 'Several months before the festival, we will organise a workshop dedicated to those interested in making short films with no budget, targeting youth from Luxor and Qena. The aim is to develop their skills and give them the opportunity to become part of the Egyptian and African cinematic landscape. This initiative is not limited to offering film workshops; it also includes opening submissions for a special film competition dedicated to Luxor and Qena, with members of the jury coming from these two governorates themselves.' This edition of LAFF will also pay tribute to the late filmmaker Youssef Chahine on the centennial of his birth. Under the theme 'Youssef Chahine… An Egyptian Story,' the festival will honour his pioneering contributions to Egyptian and global cinema. Film submissions open on August 20, 2025, and close on November 25, 2025, through the festival's official website. Eligible films must have been produced in 2025 and should not have been previously screened in Egypt. Acclaimed Egyptian actor Mahmoud Hemida has been named Honorary President of the 15th edition, underscoring the festival's stature within the cultural landscape. Organised by the Independent Shabab Foundation for Support and Development, LAFF is held in partnership with Egypt's Ministries of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, Youth and Sports, and Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with Luxor Governorate.
