Original Banksy artworks recovered from Gaza go on display in Dubai
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UAE Moments
4 hours ago
- UAE Moments
More Celebrities Speak Out on Gaza: U2, Madonna, Olivia Rodrigo, and Radiohead
More and more artists are stepping into the conversation on Gaza, with U2, Madonna, Olivia Rodrigo, and Radiohead recently making statements. Some are heartfelt, some are cautious, but all show how the crisis is impossible to ignore. U2 Divided in Their Words The Irish band made a joint post on August 10, with each member sharing their take. Bono condemned both Hamas and Israel, calling Netanyahu's government a 'moral failure.' Meanwhile, The Edge didn't hold back—using words like 'genocide' and 'ethnic cleansing.' The mixed messaging sparked even more debate among fans. Olivia Rodrigo's Emotional Plea The young pop star spoke up in July, calling the Gaza humanitarian crisis 'horrific and completely unacceptable.' She spotlighted children suffering without food, water, or medical care and even donated to Unicef, encouraging her fans to pitch in too. Madonna's Call to the Pope Madonna appealed to Pope Leo XIV earlier this month, asking him to bring light to Gaza's children. Her post was deeply personal—she tied it to her son's birthday, saying the best gift she could give was to fight for innocent lives. Still, she avoided directly condemning Israel, sticking to a 'both sides suffer' message. Radiohead's Complicated Stance Radiohead has long faced heat for performing in Israel despite boycott calls. But in May, Thom Yorke finally addressed Gaza head-on, slamming Netanyahu's government as 'out of control' and labeling the siege 'horrific.' Critics, however, said his words still fell short—especially when he questioned the 'Free Palestine' rallying cry.
The National
14 hours ago
- The National
Nadeen Ayoub on representing Palestine at Miss Universe: 'We should never be silenced'
This November, as Nadeen Ayoub steps on to the Miss Universe stage alongside contestants from over 120 countries, she will do more than make history as Palestine 's first participant – she will carry the courage and spirit of her people on a global stage. 'When you have that power, you have a responsibility to speak out. And I feel a huge responsibility,' she tells The National. 'Miss Universe is a huge platform, and there's a big responsibility in speaking out about what's happening in the Gaza. No one should be silent about the injustice that's happening. This is the time when Palestine needs to be represented on all platforms everywhere.' Crowned Miss Palestine in 2022, Ayoub, 27, made history that year when she represented her country for the first time at the Miss Earth pageant, where she was one of the top five finalists. But she had to put her future plans as a title holder on hold after conflict broke out in Gaza in 2023. 'There hasn't been another Miss Palestine since 2022 because of the genocide,' she says. 'After Miss Earth, I was supposed go to Miss Universe. But I postponed it because I did not want to go when genocide was happening. I wanted to focus more on staying behind the scenes because the spotlight was supposed to be on the people in Palestine who are suffering, rather than me.' But as violence raged and the humanitarian crises in Palestine worsens, Ayoub felt compelled to use her platform and voice to raise awareness about her people's plight. 'Palestinian people's voices need to be heard, not only the women and children, but everyone,' she says. 'The Palestinian woman is a beautiful woman who has a voice that is strong, that's resilient, that is powerful and that is angelic. And I want to show the world that side of Palestine.' A certified wellness and nutrition coach with a degree in literature and psychology, Ayoub was raised between Palestine, the US and Canada by her father who's a lawyer and her mother, an educator. She currently splits her time between her hometown of Ramallah, Amman and Dubai, where she founded Olive Green Academy, which promotes sustainability through training and awareness programmes. She also works for Sayidat Falasteen, the philanthropic and media platform of the Miss Palestine Organisation that works to uplift women by sharing their stories, supporting their businesses and showcasing their impact across Palestine and the diaspora. 'In a way, I love being an international citizen – a Palestinian international citizen,' she says. 'I like to mix what I learn internationally with me being Palestinian. This combination is almost like my art.' The long-running Miss Universe pageant is one of the most popular annual beauty competitions in the world, watched by an estimated global audience of 500 million. This year, the 74th event will be held in Pak Kret, central Thailand, with the finals on November 21. The road to the Miss Universe has not been easy, Ayoub says. 'It's a long process … a lot of interviews, a lot of applications. This is the first time in history that Palestine is being represented, but they were not going to just accept my entry. They have a lot of requirements in order to qualify as a contestant. It took me, honestly, years to get here.' With the support of the Miss Palestine Organisation as well as well-wishers and supporters, she says she's managed to pull together a team to help her prepare for the big stage in November. 'When we went to Miss Earth, it was almost like a one-woman show,' she says. 'I didn't have a big agency behind me so I had to really work hard and prepare myself because we lack these tools in Palestine. We don't have as much opportunity as other countries, because we have other causes that need more attention. 'But we have had the most positive reactions to our announcement and people have been so amazing and supportive. I have a team in the Philippines and in Palestine and other places, and all these people want to support me, because they love Palestine. And this is the most beautiful thing about it – they are so happy that Palestine is being represented at this time.' That huge responsibility is not lost on Ayoub who says she's going to give it her all and hopes to make a mark, from her fashion choices to the messages she will speak about on stage at multiple events. 'I will definitely be wearing designs from more than one designer in the competition, because I want to support as many Palestinian designers as possible. And I'm also using designs from international designers as well, and I think it's a great way to express my Palestinian identity and also my international identity,' she says. 'And as I've said before, we should never be silenced when there is injustice happening in the world. And we always should speak up for the people in Palestine, for the women and children that are starving right now, for people that are suffering for no fault of their own. And to be truly a queen is to talk about this. This is really my message.'
What's On
15 hours ago
- What's On
From street art to sculpture parks: how Dubai is becoming an open-air gallery
Dubai isn't just a global hub for business and finance; it's also an open-air art gallery in its own right. Beyond the glittering skyscrapers and buzzing restaurants lies a city alive with creativity. In September 2018, during the inaugural project of Brand Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, stated that Dubai will become an open-air gallery. And now, seven years later, Dubai has accomplished that goal, thanks to the many initiatives by Dubai Culture, Brand Dubai, government entities, and the creatives of the city. A simple stroll under the stars can lead you to striking murals, thought-provoking sculptures, and vibrant art that bring its streets to life. But it is not done yet, and it is seeking more ways in which it can bring the arts to its residents and visitors. Here are some of the ways you can enjoy art in Dubai without the need of a ticket. Dedicated art zones and districts While art is evident throughout the city, you can be fully immersed in various forms of it in art zones in the city. Alserkal Avenue This includes Alserkal Avenue, which is home to galleries, design studios, Cinema Akil; and The Junction –a performing art space. Dubai Design District Dubai Design District is another neighbourhood located close to Ras Al Khor which dedicates itself to design, fashion, art, and innovation. It was built to foster talent and support the region's growing creative economy. It's possibly one of What's On favourite spaces to visit, after Alserkal Avenue. Art festivals Art season is a thing in Dubai, and while it usually shines a spotlight on the biggest art festivals of the year, namely Art Dubai, World Art Dubai, and Sikka Art & Design Festival, these aren't the only cultural festivals to check out. Around the cooler season, the city comes to life with festivals, each offering its own unique atmosphere. In DIFC, we have the DIFC Art Nights, where visitors can enjoy paintings, sculptures, workshops, and talks under the stars. Alserkal Avenue is always a treat to visit, but during Quoz Arts Fest, the neighbourhood is bustling with crowds enjoying the artistic atmosphere. Dubai Design Week is another creative festival that brings the cool Dubai Design District to life with huge design installations you can visit under the stars and engage with. It is also home to Downtown Design, which is the city's popular furniture and collectible design fair. And that isn't the end of it, because just this year, the Bluewaters Art Festival was launched, adding a splash of colour to the city's prominent waterfront destination. Murals and street art 'Dubai is your canvas', these are words spoken by the Dubai Ruler, and artists and creatives in the city took that quite seriously, moving their art away from the canvas and easel to the walls and buildings of the city. Around Dubai, you will be treated to huge murals and street art, which make this city all the more colourful. You can spot these works of art easily in Karama shopping complex, where the art apparently sprang to life overnight back in 2016. The old buildings, once drab and grey, now boast stunning murals and have become a highlight of the neighbourhood. In Satwa, hidden in plain sight (though not as easy to find compared to Karama), are beautiful graffiti, stencil works, and more wall art. The murals depict Dubai's heritage, and there are more than 10 to find. Our favourite is the one of the Founding Father of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. And of course, if you've visited The Walk at JBR, you will spot art that was created as part of the Dubai Canvas 3D art festival. Created by talented international and national artists, the walls were painted to create cool 3D optical illusions guaranteed to make you go 'wow' even if you have seen them numerous times before. More street art and murals can also be found in Al Fahidi, Al Seef, City Walk, Al Quoz and Alserkal Avenue, and Dubai Design District. Murals have even found their way to the financial district (DIFC), where artists have splattered financial and business buildings with colours, adding a bit of cheer as people go on about their day. Sculpture Parks Sculptures in Dubai aren't restricted to galleries. You will find plenty of them dotted across the city. One popular spot to visit is the Jaddaf Waterfront Sculpture Park. Located adjacent to Jameel Arts Centre, it is the UAE's first open-air art and sculpture park. In the financial district, DIFC Sculpture Park transforms the urban landscape into an open-air gallery. You can take a walk through the creativity and discover the different structures around the iconic Gate Building. El Seed sculpture outside Dubai Opera |. Photo credit: El Seed Besides parks, a few minutes away, you can find sculptures around Downtown Dubai and near Dubai Mall. Check out the Win, Victory, Love sculpture; Love Me; Wings of Mexico and Declaration by eL Seed within minutes of each other. As a bonus, you'll have the Burj Khalifa in the backdrop. Art as part of Dubai's infrastructure By incorporating art as part of the infrastructure of the city, Dubai is ensuring it is making art accessible to a wider audience. One perfect example of this is the Dubai Metro stations, many of which have been transformed into art museums showing art and cultural artifacts. Metro stations like Bur Juman, Union, and others on the Green Line showcase photos of pearl diving, bedouins and more, telling passengers a tale of the history of Dubai. Ghubaiba – Dubai Metro station Other stations, such as Al Ghubaiba, feature traditional Emirati designs in their architecture, complementing the surrounding heritage areas. The interiors of the metro station also incorporate traditional Emirati architectural elements. Everyday life If the above isn't 'in your face' enough for you, Dubai Culture and Brand Dubai in the past, also teamed up with other government entities in Dubai to make art more accessible. RTA colourful parking machines One example includes the Road and Transport Authority, which, in collaboration with the creative sector and artists, turned 100 parking meters across the city into colourful artworks. Dubai Metro – art on Sheikh Zayed Road If you're heading towards old Dubai and are on Sheikh Zayed Road heading towards Sharjah, a number of Dubai Metro concrete piers between Dubai International Financial Centre and Emirates Towers station have been painted, adding a splash of colour to the busy highway. You will see astronauts, clouds, jellyfish, and more underwater scenes. Bus station art installations Bus users, don't worry, you weren't forgotten. As part of the Jumeira Project, eight artworks were created and erected next to popular bus stations stretching from Dubai Canal to Jumeira Al Naseem. Some of the art evoked nostalgia for longtime residents, while others celebrated its futuristic aspirations. And there's more to come… There is no limit to creativity, and Dubai has its eyes set on doing much more. With a number of megaprojects and major roadworks coming up, many of which will incorporate art in some form. This could be in the form of landscaping, sculptures, or even fountains showcasing Dubai's heritage. Want to experience the open-air gallery right now? With winter coming up, the dates of outdoor art festivals will be announced. Upcoming art festivals we are aware of include the Dhai Art Festival in November. You can find more details here. For all other art festivals, stay tuned to and we will bring you the latest details. Images: Getty Images, Dubai Media Office, WAM, Dubai Culture and RTA
