Through this essay I seek to highlight some of the many Arab immigrants that have come to what is now the UAE during the second half of the 20th century. These immigrants have been naturalised and yet our national identity has not disappeared or eroded as some may fear. In fact, in addition to their skills and talents that were essential during the formation of the federation, UAE heritage and culture was protected and preserved. Read more »
Arab World
Opening Session of the 7th Annual International Translation Conference
Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi speaks alongside Dr. Joselia Neves and Dima Khatib at the Opening Session of the 7th Annual International Translation Conference held by the Translation and Interpreting Institute (TII). Read more »
Why the Arab world must embrace placing art online
Unfortunately, many collectors in the Arab world shy away from placing their art collection online. But art institutions and collectors in the Arab world need to make a giant leap into the present day and invest in creating online portals for the region’s art. We can all play a part in countering the negative narrative of extremists in the region by virtually displaying our arts and culture. Read more »
The Arab World’s Other Migration Problem
Much of the world has been horrified by recent scenes of mostly Arab migrants drowning in the Mediterranean. However, migration has long been a trademark of the Middle East, and today it threatens to clear the region of its rich diversity. The lack of tolerance of minorities—both ancient, as in the Christians and Jews, as well as recent, as in the large minorities from the subcontinent in the Gulf—runs contrary to the Middle East’s long history as a cultural, ethnic, and religious mosaic. Read more »
BBC interview with Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi on Arab art
Interview with Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi on Barjeel Art Foundation’s year-long exhibition at London’s Whitechapel Gallery with BBC’s Yalda Hakim. Read more »
Youth and Digital Media
Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi’s illustrated talk looks at ways in which Arab youth — and specifically young artists from North Africa and West Asia — engage with diverse types of media to comment on and interact with current social and political events. He explores how new digital tools and platforms are instrumental in creating a network that connects artists to one another and to their community. Read more »