Latest news with #AbuDhabiCulture
What's On
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- What's On
Manar Abu Dhabi to brighten up the capital once again this November
Art lovers, this one's for you. Manar Abu Dhabi is returning this November 2025, turning the city into one big canvas. The enchanting art exhibition first took place in 2023, where it illuminated various spots around the capital with art commissions from talented artists. Now, it is returning due to popular demand, taking place from November 15, 2025. If it is following the previous edition's pattern, it will last until the end of January 2026, but we will have to wait for confirmation from Abu Dhabi Culture and Public Art Abu Dhabi. *From street art to sculpture parks: how Dubai is becoming an open-air gallery* What to expect at Manar Abu Dhabi? Last year, artists showed off their talents through light sculptures, projections, and immersive works of art. It was held under the theme Grounding Light – a fitting title, as Manar is Arabic for lighthouse or guiding light. This year's theme has not been announced, but you can keep your eyes peeled for updates from the Abu Dhabi Culture Instagram page. Ayesha Hadhir, Rawdha Al Ketbi, Shaikha Al Ketbi, Dawaran 2023 In the past edition, a number of key locations in Abu Dhabi were lucky to host these magnificent artworks. It included Corniche Road and Beach, Eastern Mangrove, Fahid Island, Jubail Mangrove Park, Lulu Island, Saadiyat Island, and Al Samaliyah Island. Over 20 local, regional, and international artists were invited to attend, each presenting their interpretation of the theme. And while all the sculptures are Instagrammable, some are interactive, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the artwork, and some are just thought-provoking, allowing you to pause and soak in a deeper message. Stay tuned for all the latest updates on this art festival via or via @abudhabiculture Images: Manar Abu Dhabi Feature image: Artist Rafael Lozeno-Hemmer – Thermal Drift > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
CairoScene
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Traditional Handicrafts Festival Returns to Al Ain This November
The festival will take place from November 1st to 10th, 2025, featuring live performances, artisan markets, and Emirati cuisine. Artisans, performers, and food vendors can apply until September 15th. Aug 16, 2025 The 11th Traditional Handicrafts Festival will return to Souq Al Qattara in Al Ain from November 1st to 10th, 2025, offering visitors a chance to explore Emirati heritage through live performances, artisan markets, and traditional cuisine. Past editions have featured pavilions dedicated to pottery, palm-frond weaving, and Sadu and Talli embroidery, alongside stalls selling medicinal herbs, falconry equipment, Arabic coffee, and Emirati dishes. Performances such as Al Ayyala, a traditional group dance that re-enacts a battle scene, have been central highlights. Artisans, performers, and food and beverage vendors interested in participating can apply until September 15th through the official link on the Abu Dhabi Culture Instagram page. This year, the festival will open from 9 AM to 1 PM for school and university groups, and from 4 PM to 11 PM for the general public. Entry is free for all.
Al Etihad
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
UAE a global leader in preserving historic art of Arabic calligraphy
14 Aug 2025 00:25 AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)Art as beautiful as Arabic calligraphy deserves the global spotlight, and the UAE has been at the forefront of keeping this ancient art form alive amid the rapid developments of the modern world. On World Calligraphy Day, marked every second Wednesday of August, Aletihad highlights the significance of this artistic expression as a cultural treasure for the UAE and the Arab world. Arabic calligraphy was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in December 2021, and the UAE is among the 16 countries that have made it happen. UNESCO described the art form as 'the artistic practice of handwriting Arabic script in a fluid manner to convey harmony, grace and beauty.''The fluidity of Arabic script offers infinite possibilities, even within a single word, as letters can be stretched and transformed in numerous ways to create different motifs,' it said. Arabic calligraphy is more than just a writing technique: its flowing lines, curves, and complex forms represent centuries of artistic tradition, as well as the richness and elegance of the was born out of Arab speakers' need to develop the language and create letters and shapes that capture 'the spirit and culture of Arab and Islamic societies,' Abu Dhabi Culture said in a primer on its website. 'Over time, as the importance of the Arabic language grew, specialised art forms and calligraphy schools were established with innovative curricula,' it added. At a time when most writing needs are met by tapping away on screens and keyboards, the UAE ensures there remains a permanent space for the art of putting ink on paper and turning Arabic script into a masterpiece. The UAE has established itself as a leader in preserving and advancing Arabic calligraphy through numerous initiatives – including exhibitions and festivals – within the country and beyond.'This has encouraged new developments and innovations in calligraphy and other arts,' Abu Dhabi Culture said. The Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi has been committed to supporting this art form since its early days. Through the years, it has organised events and activities that encourage development in the field. It has also set up a dedicated department for teaching the art. The Ministry of Culture, through awards like the prestigious Al Burda Award, has played a pivotal role in encouraging global participation and recognition of the organisations regularly hold workshops, competitions, and exhibitions, combining traditional techniques with modern resources. In 2023, more than 200 artists from around the world participated in the inaugural Dubai Calligraphy Biennale, which was organised by Dubai beauty and development of Arabic script in visual art were emphasised by exhibitions such as the 'History of Arabic Calligraphy in the UAE' at Al Shindagha Museum and the 'Light Lines' photography entities in the country also ensure the art form remains relevant through impactful discussions and open dialogues. The 2024 panel discussion 'Arabic Calligraphy: Between Creativity and Renewal' at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library was one such effort that brought together well-known calligraphers and artists. Arabic calligraphy has evolved through time, from the geometric Kufic script to the elegant, flowing Naskh, and contemporary freestyle typefaces. While maintaining the discipline and internal logic of the art form, artists today experiment with both traditional and digital forms, developing new designs for branding, book design, posters, and commercial use. By actively supporting and celebrating this heritage, the UAE has not only safeguarded Arabic calligraphy but also elevated it on the global stage, establishing itself as a vibrant centre for creatives, artists, and calligraphers from around the world.
Al Etihad
15-06-2025
- Al Etihad
Step into the Bronze Age at Al Ain's Hili Archaeological Park
16 June 2025 00:23 RAJEEV CHERIAN (AL AIN)A lush public garden home to major archaeological sites, Hili Archaeological Park in Al Ain offers an ideal setting for family outings and peaceful strolls in nature and serves as a treasure trove for history enthusiasts. Located some 10km outside the lush oasis city of Al Ain, Hili Archaeological Park offers insights into Bronze Age (3000-1300 BCE) and Iron Age (1300-300 BCE) settlements, tombs and irrigation site also reveals details about the earliest known evidence of an agricultural village in the UAE, dating to 3000 BCE, according to the Abu Dhabi Culture 2500 and 2000 BCE - during the period known as 'Umm an-Nar' era — settlements at Hili term 'Umm an-Nar' also refers to an island off the coast of Abu Dhabi, where artefacts from this era were first discovered, shedding light on the culture and lifestyle of the UAE's Bronze Age from the site revealed that the island's inhabitants traded with the civilisations of Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) and the Indus Valley Civilisation (modern-day Pakistan and India), according to information on the Abu Dhabi Culture website. A Burial SiteA major attraction at the site is the 4,000-year-old Hili Grand Tomb. Measuring 12 metres in diameter and originally thought to be four metres in height with a roof, the tomb was used to bury people from surrounding settlements. The tomb features two entrances decorated with intricately engraved reliefs depicting human and animal figures. Similar tombs can be found in neighbouring areas, according to Abu Dhabi Culture. 'Life After Death' Adjacent to the Grand Tomb is the Hili 1 Settlement, once a tower made of mud bricks. The site was excavated in the 1960s by Danish archaeologists at the invitation of the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, according to Abu Dhabi Culture.'This partially excavated settlement was inhabited by a community which believed in life after death as indicated by the number of stone monuments they built for their dead,' it said. 'The inhabitants lived in buildings constructed of sun-dried mud bricks. The most typical shape of the early Bronze Age dwellings is a round tower with a well usually located in the centre of the building.'The round tower was surrounded by smaller buildings and a defensive ditch, according to information displayed at the site at the centre of the park is Hili 10 Settlement.'These are the remains of a single building which may have been the central part of a larger settlement. Only the foundations of the building remain, as the original floors and the upper wall have been eroded away by time,' reads the inscription at the park.'The types of pottery discovered indicate that the building belonged to Bronze Age (3000-1300 BCE) and it was reoccupied during the Iron Age (1300-300 BCE).' Global HeritageThe Hili area also features a falaj irrigation system, which carries water from the mountains to the farms via a complex system of underground and surface channels. In 2011, Al Ain became the first in the UAE to be inscribed on UNESCO's world heritage site list, featuring: the Bronze Age Hafeet Tombs, the archaeological settlements at Hili, the prehistoric settlements and burial mounds at Bidaa bint Saud, and the six lush oases of Al Ain, including Al Ain Oasis.
The National
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
The Urban Treasures that define Abu Dhabi
In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews celebrate Abu Dhabi's urban culture through some of its beloved local businesses. A number of long-time establishments in the emirate have been honoured as Urban Treasures by Abu Dhabi Culture for their contribution to the commercial and cultural fabric of the capital over the past few decades. As the city grows and evolves, these pastry shops, fitness centres and even clinics thrive as historic landmarks reminiscent of a bygone era. Enas and Farah speak to one of the honorees, Santa D Souza, owner of Orchid Tailoring & Embroidery Shop, about what this recognition means to him. To mark the start of Eid Al Adha, the hosts take a closer look at the different customs that observers across the region have adopted, from the universal rituals of sacrifice to more individual traditions that families have created in their own homes and communities.
