Successful nations are born of hard sacrifices made to attain giant leaps. In the world of finance, a J Curve is a trendline in which an initial loss is immediately followed by a dramatic gain. In this article, Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi discusses this phenomenon as it relates to the formation of the UAE. Read more »
UAE
‘Building Sharjah’: Book Documents the Rise of a Modern Gulf City
A new book titled “Building Sharjah” traces the architectural history of the city of Sharjah and the social and political contexts of its urbanization from the mid-20th century, from before the discovery of oil off its shores until the present day. Read more »
Indian architect Ashok Mody shares memories of building Sharjah
Ashok Mody was a young architect from India on his first international assignment when he arrived in Sharjah in 1975. Over the next five years, he worked on projects that have become enduring landmarks of the emirate such as Al Zahra Hospital, the Oceanic Hotel in Khorfakkan and the biggest public housing development — the 1000 Villas project in Al Ghubaiba. Four decades later, Mody still cherishes his memories of living and working in Sharjah and acknowledges that the experience was invaluable to his career. Weekend Review caught up with Ashok Mody during his visit to the city, in this interview. Read more »
Ashok Mody, who built Sultan Al Qassemi’s family home, on the distinctiveness of Gulf architecture
Ashok Mody, who lived in Sharjah from 1975 to 1980, is responsible for a number of buildings in the Emirate. A group of about 80 people packed into the majlis of one of the vast family residences in central Sharjah last weekend for a conversation between the house’s architect – Ashok Mody – and one of the children who grew up in it, Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi. Read more »
Sultan Al Qassemi: Taking a ‘Warrior’s Break’
At a recent panel discussion in Dubai celebrating the eight-year anniversary of the foundation, Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi noted how few people can recognise even iconic works of modern Arab art history. This press feature in the National discusses the importance of Al Qassemi’s project, Barjeel Art Foundation, in raising awareness about modern Arab art. Read more »
The UAE’s first foray into international art: The World of Islam Festival
In 1976, the UAE helped art enthusiast Ahmad Paul Keeler stage one of the biggest artistic events in the world — one that marked a seismic shift in the understanding of Islamic arts in Britain and beyond. Read more »