Dubai, Kuwait and Riyadh turned away from the past to make way for modern skyscrapers, but UAE’s Sharjah takes a different tack. Bloomberg economist Ziad Daoud interviews Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi for his take on how Sharjah aims to “acknowledge our distant as well as our recent past” through art and architecture. Read more »
Al Sharekh: An Arab pioneer who came into our homes without us ever meeting him
Mohammed Al Sharekh, a visionary entrepreneur and cultural pioneer from Kuwait, played a pivotal role in advancing Arabic language and technology. His efforts in preserving and promoting the Arabic language and culture earned him widespread acclaim, including the King Faisal International Prize. From founding Sakhr Computers, the first Arabic-enabled software company, to championing Arabic culture and development through his work in economic institutions and art collection, Al Sharekh’s legacy continues to inspire. Read more »
The UAE-Saudi relationship isn’t about competition
Over the past few months, much has been said about the relationship between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, some of it strikingly shallow and misinformed. Is there competition and differences of opinion and approach on some issues between the two Gulf powers? There certainly is. Competition, in fact, is one of the secret recipes of the UAE’s very own success. Read more »
Sultan Al Qassemi on New Years Eve with CNN’s Becky Anderson
Aired live on New Years Eve, tune into this timely discussion with Becky Anderson as Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi shares his reflections on art, culture and war in 2023 on Abu Dhabi Live CNN. Read more »
Emirati history told by Emirati voices is an invaluable gift to posterity
Few countries have witnessed the changes that the UAE has over the past 52 years. There are endless accounts of folks who were born into mudbrick houses who went on to become cabinet ministers, ambassadors, business personalities and teachers. Countless indeed, but very few are documented in depth and written down for others to read and learn from. It is high time that the generation of Emiratis who have witnessed the birth of this nation put pen to paper the events they have witnessed and the stories behind them. Read more »
On This Land, an exhibition in Alserkal Avenue, is a ‘triumph of Palestinian culture’
On This Land, an exhibition at Concrete in Alserkal Avenue, comes as a response to the Israeli war on Gaza, and stretches from modern to contemporary works as a triumph for Palestinian culture. Read more »