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 […]
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi: An ode to UAE’s landscape and culture The eagerly awaited Guggenheim, Abu Dhabi, slated to open on December 11, 2026, will be an architectural landmark, designed around the landscape, climate and culture of the Emirates. Designed by internationally acclaimed Canadian-American architect, late Frank Gehry, the museum structure located within the Saadiyat Cultural […]
Inside Alserkal Avenue’s New Exhibitions This autumn expect an art overload as a string of new exhibitions open at Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue across this week. From raw steel sculptures to radical textile transformations, the 2026–27 cultural season is kicking off with a line-up that demands your full attention. Whether you are a seasoned collector or […]
Art on View: This September September signals more than the return of cooler evenings and busier social calendars — it marks the beginning of a new season for art. With fresh exhibitions opening their doors, familiar venues welcoming audiences back and new artistic conversations waiting to unfold, the month brings a renewed flavour to UAE’s […]
Majlis of Flavours: Chef Omar Sartawi revisits his grandma’s Maqloubeh recipe Learning to make the Maqloubeh from his grandmother is one of Jordanian Chef Omar Sartawi’s most cherished food memories. Growing up in Amman, one evening Sartawi, an internationally acclaimed chef and food artist, recalls watching his grandma prepare the Maqloubeh, a popular Middle Eastern rice dish. This comforting […]
Art Bridges by Saudi Visual Arts Commission concludes Following a year of international exchange, the Art Bridges 2025-2026 initiative, was successfully completed to strengthen dialogue and creative experiences for Saudi and Saudi-based artists. The programme helmed by Saudi Arabia’s Visual Arts Commission was hosted in Scotland, Japan, South Korea and Spain bringing together 40 visual […]
Your Guide to Dubai’s Summer Art Scene While Dubai’s vibrant art calendar traditionally slows to a quiet drift as the summer heat rises, the city’s creative pulse refuses to fade entirely. To help culture seekers navigate this indoor season Middle East Masala lists an exciting line-up of exhibitions across the city’s art galleries. Between Memory and Imagination […]
In Transit, Group Exhibition at Artbooth Gallery, Abu Dhabi Palestinian artist, Wadeei Khaled was born in a refugee camp in southern West Bank. Now based in Ramallah, the artist draws from his personal and collective narratives, to create art that weaves together stories of belonging, resilience, and displacement. As part of the group exhibition In […]
An ode to the Flame Tree Season From late April to end July, neighbourhoods and promenades, in Dubai burst into vivid red and orange colours, as the flame trees bloom. Their fiery scarlet red and vermillion coloured petals surrounding the elegant stamens, make for a striking contrast, through the canopy of fern-like leaves. Known in […]
Under the Same Sky by Rizq Art Initiative How do artists living in the UAE interpret nuances of a nation they call home? Twenty UAE-based artists responded to this prompt to create their personal perspectives of a homeland, in Under The Same Sky, a group exhibition at Rizq Art Gallery, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi. […]