Inside Abdul Qader Al Rais Retrospective at Opera Gallery, Dubai

At his landmark retrospective exhibition, Al Nayed, eminent Emirati artist Abdul Qader Al Rais, appeared deeply reflective. On the day of the opening in Opera Gallery in DIFC, he sat unassumingly, greeting each visitor with a quiet nod and a tender smile. Surrounded by his distinctive large canvases, tracing the evolution of his artistic oeuvre, Al Rais appeared to calmly soak in the radiance of this milestone event.

“Al Nayed brings together works from different stages of my practice. Walking through the artworks felt like revisiting moments from my own life. I was deeply moved to see all my art in one place and grateful to share this journey with my family, friends and the public,” Al Rais told Middle East Masala, reflecting on this significant exhibition.

Capturing more than five decades of the artist’s journey, Al Nayed, traces the evolution one of UAE’s most iconic contemporary artists. Born in 1951, Al Rais, a founding member of the Emirates Fine Art Society, has played a central role in shaping UAE’s modern visual identity. Through his deeply evocative paintings he has captured the striking interplay between UAE’s natural landscapes, architecture, heritage and Islamic culture.

“Artists spend a considerable amount of their time with their paintings in the studio. And when they are finally presented to the public, another chapter in their life begins through people’s perspectives, questions and responses,” he shared.

For over a year, Al Rais, has been preparing for this retrospective, which was initially planned for December 2025. Spread across two floors of the gallery located in DIFC, Al Nayed, brings together seminal works from five of the artist’s celebrated series — Alghaf, inspired by the Ghaf tree, a national symbol of the UAE; the Calligraphy (Hurufiyya) series, where Arabic letters function as visual and spiritual forms; Impressionism, early depictions of UAE landscapes rendered with soft, atmospheric brushstrokes; Alhaa, a distinctive series of watercolour on paper works; and Abstract, which combines geometric elements — most notably Al Rais’s signature squares — with landscape compositions.

“My work has explored both the UAE’s past and its present. I have painted its old neighbourhoods, doors and boats, as well as its modern landmarks and urban development. Each period has its own beauty and story, and expressing this journey through my vision as an artist is important to me,” said Al Rais.

“I would like to continue exploring people’s relationship with this transformation — how life changes while memories, values and traditions remain. The UAE’s culture lives not only in its landmarks, but also in everyday life, in people’s connection to the sea and the land, in the bonds that bring them together, in their loyalty to their country and pride in their identity. These meanings remain a source of inspiration in both my figurative and abstract work,” he added.

Over the years, Al Rais has exhibited widely in the UAE and internationally, including at institutions such as Sharjah Art Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Emirates Fine Arts Society and the British Museum. Early on in his career, he was inspired by Dutch masters and Impressionists, as he painted the region’s distinctive landscapes, natural habitats, local scenes and architecture. In 1974, when he took a break from life in the arts for over 12 years, he made a comeback with a new found passion for abstract art.

At the Al Nayed exhibition in Opera Gallery, on view are rare works from the artist’s private collection and a selection of previously unseen new works, highlighting his continued creative vitality. Among them are figurative art of Emirati children in traditional attire, intricate designs on doors and windows, scenes of wooden dhows on the beach and palm trees standing tall outside earthen walls. “These works are close to my heart because they preserve something of my beginnings and the stages through which my artistic practice took shape. Looking at them today, I remember what occupied my thoughts at that time, and what I was trying to learn and express through painting,” he revealed.

Do the faces and motifs hold a personal significance for him? “The faces carry a human presence that I cherish. What drew me to them was their expression, their gaze and the feelings they convey to the viewer. The doors, boats and other elements are connected to places and surroundings I have known for years. Keeping these artworks has allowed me to return to them over the years and see how my practice has evolved. I am happy to share them today as they offer the public an insight into my journey and the roots from which my later art developed,” he replied.

Al Nayed runs at Opera Gallery, DIFC, Dubai, till October 25, 2026.