Latest news with #AlJabri
Observer
05-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
‘Align media messages with Vision 2040 priorities'
MUSCAT, MAY 5 The Government Communication Centre convened its 28th coordination meeting, bringing together representatives from media institutions and government entities across the Sultanate of Oman. The session forms part of a long-standing series of engagements aimed at fostering dialogue, aligning narratives, and enhancing institutional collaboration in the field of strategic communication. The gathering comes at a time of fast-evolving media and communication technologies, offering a timely platform to discuss developments, share expertise, and explore integrated approaches to public messaging. The initiative aligns with Oman Vision 2040, which calls for modernising communication frameworks and reinforcing the role of media in national development. Addressing the meeting, Dr Khamis bin Saif al Jabri, Head of the Implementation Follow-up Unit for Oman Vision 2040, underlined the need to tailor strategies to suit the distinct circumstances of each development phase. He noted that ongoing coordination among institutions is critical to showcasing progress and ensuring the visibility of national achievements. 'Each period comes with its own context, and we must adapt our performance monitoring and implementation efforts accordingly,' said Dr Al Jabri. 'It is essential to highlight institutional accomplishments within a broader ecosystem, as most strategic projects are deeply interlinked.' Dr Al Jabri further stressed the need for government agencies to synchronise their media content with national priorities, ensuring coherence in messaging and programme delivery under the Oman Vision 2040 framework. He also urged institutions to embed the economic dimension within their communication outputs, encouraging them to articulate their contributions to economic growth and national resilience. 'Every government entity has an economic impact — it must be made visible. Moreover, economic risks must be factored into institutional performance to sustain effectiveness and inform policy outcomes,' he noted. The Government Communication Centre's ongoing meetings serve as a vital conduit for dialogue and policy alignment in a rapidly changing media landscape. By reinforcing inter- agency partnerships and updating communication strategies, the initiative supports transparent governance, informed citizen engagement, and the unified advancement of Oman Vision 2040 objectives.
Times of Oman
22-04-2025
- Science
- Times of Oman
Bryde's Whale spotted in Musandam for first time
Muscat: The Environment Authority has spotted a Bryde's whale in Musandam Governorate for the first time since the launch of the Marine Mammal Species Project. Aida bint Khalaf Al Jabri, Project Leader, said that this monitoring is an important step in understanding the prevalence of rare or previously undocumented marine species in Musandam Governorate, underscoring the importance of continuing environmental surveys to protect biodiversity in the Sultanate of Oman. Al Jabri added that the project represents a pioneering initiative that links fieldwork with scientific research and contributes to building a national database that enhances the Sultanate of Oman's efforts to protect marine species and sustain them for future generations. The Bryde's whale is a medium-sized whale species, characterised by a long, streamlined body and a blue-gray colour, with three prominent protrusions on the top of its head that distinguish it from other whales. Known for its stealthy behavior and rapid movements, this whale prefers warm waters and feeds on small fish and plankton using a "surge and swallow" method. It is often seen alone or in small groups. It's worth noting that monitoring Bryde's whales is a sensitive biological indicator of the balance and health of the marine ecosystem, which is directly affected by environmental changes and marine pollution.
The National
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
The documentary series preserving the legacies and personalities of veteran Emirati artists
'Death is very tough,' Khulood Al Jabri says in a new documentary dedicated to the Emirati artist. 'I never knew how tough it could be until my mother died.' Al Jabri is sitting in her studio. One of her paintings is propped up against the wall behind her. The work is a good example of Al Jabri's artistic idiosyncrasies, incorporating motifs of Emirati heritage within a dynamic and vibrant composition. Yet, her work is in the background both literally as well as figuratively. It informs only a small part of the 40-minute documentary. Instead, the film is more keen to unpack who she is as a person, how she sees the world and her place in it. Al Jabri is one of 13 Emirati artists featured in their own documentary as part of a series titled Al Helm, or The Dream. It is screening every Thursday at the Ministry of Culture's Abu Dhabi Creative Centre. The artists also include Mohamed Al Astad, Mahmoud Al Ramahi, Dr Mohamed Yousif, Abdulrahman Zainal, Hoda Saeed Seif, Jassim Rabia Al Awadhi, Noura Al Hashimi, Rashid Al Mulla, Nasser Haji, Mariam Eid Al Mazroui, Hisham Al Madhloum, and Obaid Srour. Al Helm does touch upon their disparate practices, but it is their individual perspectives that the films are more interested in uncovering. 'These films are very important for our history, our archive,' says Sumayyah Al Suwaidi, director of the Cultural and Creative Centres at the Ministry of Culture. 'They will be something that future generations will watch to learn about the history of arts in the UAE. These films show the personality of these artists more than they do their work.' Elyan Mouarkesh, director and producer of Al Helm, says she approached all the artists with the same questions, which ranged from their favourite foods and colours to the scent that affected them the most. The artists were asked to recount their best and worst memories, and their views on death and life. They were asked to define the nature of a dream. The questions, at first, may seem simple enough, but they evoke responses that are often profound and relatable. The artists' answers, Mouarkesh says, were as diverse as their works. 'You have Mahmoud Al Ramahi, who is a philosopher, talking about the big questions in life. You have the sensitivity and the tears of Khuloud Al Jabri. You have Mohamed Al Astad, who was very rational. Dr Mohamed Youssef, who was telling jokes and recounting his first visit to Egypt. They were all presented with the same questions, but we never had the same answer twice,' Mouarkesh says. 'I have four artists who cried on camera.' Mouarkesh and executive producer Roland Daou, chief executive of Media Mania Productions, both say Al Helm began five years ago as a passion project. The group had previously worked with government entities, including films for DCT – Abu Dhabi. Al Helm, in a way, was a natural extension to the network they had established over the years. 'We are into production, broadcasting and streaming. This is the heart of our business,' Daou says. 'We decided to do the project after having friends and connections in the world of art.' The Ministry of Culture soon recognised the potential of the series and its power in documenting an important era of Emirati art. The series' presentation at the Abu Dhabi Creative Centre is fitting, especially considering that several of the artists featured in the films are exhibiting works at the venue. The programme, which runs every Thursday until May 29, goes beyond film screening, Al Suwaidi says. It offers a communal experience and gives a chance for audiences to meet the artists in the films. 'As the ministry, we want to bridge the gap between the community and the artists,' Al Suwaidi says. 'A lot of people in the community are intimidated by the arts. They say we don't go to galleries because we don't understand art, or we don't go because we don't know this community. A movie screening is something easy for someone to attend. They may be intimidated to attend Abu Dhabi Art or Art Dubai, but if it's a film, it's easier.' While it is still uncertain where the films will be available after they finish screening at the Abu Dhabi Creative Centre, Al Suwaidi says the series will be a natural fit for local film festivals. 'These films should be at film festivals,' she says. 'We have Marmoom: Film in the Desert, Al Ain Film Festival and the Sharjah Film Festival, to name a few. These films should be showcased there before they become available on social media platforms or on YouTube.'
CairoScene
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Emirati Cartoonist Khaled Al Jabri on Turning Criticism into Art
Emirati Cartoonist Khaled Al Jabri on Turning Criticism into Art There's a peculiar kind of magic in the way toddlers wield crayons. Unburdened by proportion, perspective, or the existential dread of going viral, they scribble with the chaotic confidence of Picassos raised on sugar. Adults, meanwhile, clutch pens like live wires—terrified of misspelling 'accommodate' in an email, let alone sketching a thought. But somewhere between the reckless abandon of childhood and the soul-crushing weight of grown-up expectations, Khaled Al Jabri found a loophole: a pencil, a pixel, and a philosophy that 'art is the ultimate Ctrl+Z for life's messes.' A mechanical engineer by profession and a satirical illustrator by instinct, Al Jabri is one of the UAE's most distinctive cartoonists. His minimalist, expressive line work has graced newspapers, social feeds, and even corporate collaborations, each piece a sharp, wordless commentary on modern life. In a region where editorial cartoons have often taken a backseat to traditional journalism, Al Jabri has carved out a rare space—one that bridges nostalgia with digital virality, humor with critique. Khaled Al Jabri wields his pen like a compass—navigating the chaotic seas of satire, social media algorithms, and the occasional existential dread of an artist who moonlights as a petroleum engineer. His story isn't just one of lines and erasers; it's a masterclass in drafting, redrafting, and redrawing the boundaries of creativity in a digital age that demands both wit and resilience. From the hushed corridors of UAE University, where he first dared to scribble his frustrations into campus magazines, to the dizzying realm of Instagram reels where a single post can spark applause or cancellation, Al Jabri's journey is a testament to the quiet power of humility—and the occasional, well-timed punchline. 'When I started, I was terrified of criticism. But I chose to get hurt and learn from it. You'd get more hurt if years pass by and your work piles up in a drawer,' Al Jabri tells SceneNowUAE. His foray into cartooning began as a university student, channeling the 'negativities' of campus life into caricatures that echoed the sharp, wordless satire of Eastern European traditions. Early critiques were brutal. 'A friend even told me my work was zift [rubbish],' Al Jabri admits. 'I thought, okay, next time I'll make it less… zift.' The gamble worked. His work soon landed in Al Khaleej newspaper, catapulting his audience from campus peers to millions. Yet, as print's influence waned, Al Jabri pivoted, trading newsprint for Instagram grids. 'Social media's a wild sea,' Al Jabri says. 'You throw your art in, not knowing if you'll catch praise or piranhas.' Navigating platforms where 'the audience is a psychologist's puzzle,' Al Jabri walks a tightrope between viral trends and artistic integrity. 'It's a sea—you throw your art in, not knowing if you'll catch praise or piranhas.' His strategy? 'You can't just chase likes. If your art doesn't resonate with you, it's a disservice.' With a process that's a cocktail of spontaneity and strategy, ideas strike mid-conversation or during encounters with Dubai's infamous speed radars—'I once drew a radar sprouting from a garden.' He sketches first on paper ('the true passion'), then polishes digitally. But above all, his duality is his superpower. By day, he's a mechanical engineer in the petroleum industry; by night, a digital satirist and accidental scriptwriter. 'Life is weird. You open a door because you are trying to get somewhere, and suddenly a million new doors open—ones you didn't even expect,' Al Jabri says. His 2016 comic, blending petrol lore with punchlines, remains a career highlight. 'I took the petrol, art, engineering, and scriptwriting and mixed them in a blender. What came out was a comic book about the story of petrol in comics, and somehow, it worked.' For Al Jabri, art is therapy. 'When words fail, drawings speak,' he reflects. Yet, he's philosophical about impact. 'You never know if your work changes minds or just echoes what's already there. But being part of the conversation? That's enough.' His advice to aspiring artists? 'Continuance and consistency. Draw for 25 years—then tell me it's hard.' As for his own legacy, he grins: 'In 10 years, maybe I'll be leading engineering projects… or painting murals in cafés. Who knows? The beauty is in the not knowing.' Khaled Al Jabri's career is a cocktail shaker of contradictions—engineer and artist, traditionalist and digital nomad, humble scribe and accidental influencer. In a world obsessed with labels, Al Jabri remains gloriously unboxed. And perhaps that's his greatest caricature of all: a man who proves that creativity, like oil, can fuel unexpected journeys—so long as you're brave enough to strike the right vein.
Trade Arabia
23-02-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Dubai International Air Chiefs' Conference to be held in November
Adnec Group and the UAE Ministry of Defence have announced a strategic partnership to organise the 12th edition of the Dubai International Air Chiefs' Conference (DIACC) in 2025. The conference, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, will take place on November 16, a day prior to the Dubai Airshow. The signing of the strategic partnership agreement was attended by Major General Pilot Rashed Mohammed Al Shamsi, Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defence. The agreement was signed by Major General Dr Mubarak Saeed bin Ghafan Al Jabri, Assistant Under-Secretary for Support and Defence Industries at the Ministry of Defence, and Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO of Adnec Group, in the presence of senior leaders and officials. Major General Dr Al Jabri said: 'Since its inception in 2003, the Dubai International Air Chiefs' Conference has established itself as the world's largest and most prestigious forum for air power. It brings together global air force leaders and decision-makers to exchange insights on the future of aerial warfare, emerging technologies, and strategic defence initiatives.' Al Jabri expressed confidence that the strategic partnership with Adnec Group would enhance the competitiveness of this event and its ability to attract air force leaders, decision-makers and specialists from around the world. He emphasised the concerted efforts of national institutions across both the public and private sectors to ensure the success of this significant event, in line with the UAE's prestigious regional and global standing. Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO of Adnec Group, said: 'The signing of this agreement aligns with ADNEC Group's strategy to support all specialised national events that contribute to the advancement of the defence industries sector in the UAE. It reinforces dialogue, knowledge exchange, and the transfer and localisation of advanced expertise, reaffirming the country's position as a leading hub for exhibitions and conferences, as well as a centre for creativity, innovation, and development in these vital sectors.' He added: 'We are proud of the trust placed in us by our partners at the Ministry of Defence. Our teams, led by highly skilled Emirati professionals, are committed to working together to exceed the expectations of all participants, ensuring the event meets the highest global standards in the sector.'
