Abu Dhabi and Al Ain are transforming into sprawling, open-air galleries for the next few months.
The first Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, which opened on Friday and will run until April 30, features performances and site-specific installations. More than 70 local and international artists are taking part.
While several works are being presented during the biennial’s launch, many more will be unveiled as the event progresses.
The sheer number of works and locations that make up the biennial mean it can be difficult to know where to go and what to see.
Here is a guide to eight routes that are part of Public Art Abu Dhabi, as well as the visitor hubs:
Abu Dhabi Corniche
One of the most popular public spaces in the UAE capital, the Corniche is an important location. Artworks will be spread along the waterfront and its views of the Abu Dhabi skyline.
Eight artists and collectives will be displaying works. These include Wael Al Awar, Oscar Murillo, Farah Al Qasimi, Bik Van der Pol, Tania Candiani, Sammy Baloji, UT-R Studio and Nicholas Galanin.
Abu Dhabi Public Parks
The lush, interconnected spaces facing the Corniche will also showcase several artworks. The park network is a public favourite because of its maze, pond, outdoor gym equipment, as well as its cycling paths and barbecue areas.
Eleven artists and groups will be shown across the parks and along an hour-long walking tour. The artists include Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Kader Attia, Rand Abdul Jabbar, Hashel Al Lamki, Seema Nusrat, Abdullah Al Saadi, Rami Kashou x Emirati Artisans, Paweł Althamer, Nathan Coley, Athar Jaber, as well as Allora & Calzadilla.
Abu Dhabi Bus Terminal
Abu Dhabi’s main bus terminal is one of the most unique structures in the city. Designed by architect Georgi Kolarov and built in 1989, it features angular shapes with a clean, modernist aesthetic that stands out among the surrounding buildings.
Six artists and collectives will be featured at the venue, including Henrique Oliveira, Hussein Sharif, Zeinab Alhashemi, Atelier Aziz Al Qatami, Daniel Buren and Eko Nugroho.
Downtown Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi’s urban core embodies the capital’s concord between the traditional and the modern. The area is replete with souqs, commercial and retail spaces, as well as restaurants, all of which reflect the city’s cosmopolitan nature.
The biennial has curated a one-hour walking tour across the downtown area. Artworks by six artists and groups will be featured, including Superflex, Lucia Koch, Coley, Azza Al Qubaisi, Mohammed Al Hawajri, and Radhika Khimji.
Cultural Foundation
Unsurprisingly, the country’s first cultural and arts centre will be a major setting. The Cultural Foundation opened in 1981, functioning as a library, a performance auditorium and an exhibition centre. Several cross-cultural activities took place at the venue in the decades that followed.
The building underwent a major renovation between 2008 and 2018. It is now, once again, a key cultural location in the capital, featuring a year-round programme of exhibitions and events.
Seven artists and collectives will be featured in the area, including Mohamed Al Astad, Wael Shawky, Mircea Cantor, Ayesha Hadhir, Nnenna Okore, Arquitectura Expandida, and Load na Dito.
Carpet Souq
Located on Al Mina Road, the Carpet Souq features more than 100 shops selling carpets from across the world, both hand-woven and machine made.
The larger area is also significant in the urban fabric of the capital, featuring Heritage Park, as well as the familiar Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel, which looms as an example of modern heritage.
Five artists will be featured in the area that is along a 40-minute driving route. These include Christopher Joshua Benton, Khalil Rabah, Eddie Clemens, Yeesookyung and guBuyoBand.
National Theatre
Another important cultural landmark, the National Theatre was inaugurated in 1981 and has a 2,250-seat auditorium, a 150-capacity conference hall and art galleries.
The nearby Umm Al Emarat Park, meanwhile, is also a significant public space. It is one of the oldest in the emirate, and is renowned for its family-friendly attractions, including Children’s Garden, Animal Barn, and Amphitheatre.
Works by Afra Al Dhaheri and Kabir Mohanty will be featured in the area, with a 30-minute drive between them.
Al Ain Oasis
A Unesco World Heritage site, Al Ain Oasis is a key historical location for the country, alluding to a history that dates back thousands of years.
The oasis covers 1,200 hectares and has more than 147,000 date palms. The oasis is irrigated by the ancient al falaj system, which serves hundreds of farms. The area also showcases tombs from the Bronze Age. The nearby Al Jahili Fort, meanwhile, embodies a more recent past. It was built in the 19th century to defend Al Ain from enemy forces.
Seven artists will be showcasing works across a 45-minute Al Ain driving route which will also highlight the oasis city’s history. The artists include Latifa Saeed, Alex Ayed, Coley, Rawdha Al Ketbi, Shaikha Al Ketbi, and Yeesookyung.
Visitor Hubs
Visitor hubs have also been set up across several routes, including at the Corniche, the Carpet Souq, the public parks, as well as in Al Ain.
The hubs will feature artwork, as well as dining options, unique merchandise, and information points.
Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial will run until April 30. Public operating hours are from 10am to 10pm from Monday to Thursday; and 10am to midnight from Friday to Sunday
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
Baby Driver
Director: Edgar Wright
Starring: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Lily James
Three and a half stars
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
La Mer lowdown
La Mer beach is open from 10am until midnight, daily, and is located in Jumeirah 1, well after Kite Beach. Some restaurants, like Cupagahwa, are open from 8am for breakfast; most others start at noon. At the time of writing, we noticed that signs for Vicolo, an Italian eatery, and Kaftan, a Turkish restaurant, indicated that these two restaurants will be open soon, most likely this month. Parking is available, as well as a Dh100 all-day valet option or a Dh50 valet service if you’re just stopping by for a few hours.
