In the heart of a healing Damascus, creativity has carved out an unlikely refuge. A once-abandoned building – left skeletal and silent – has been reborn as a radiant hub for artistic expression, thanks to a two-week exhibition led by the Madad Art Foundation.
Designed in 2008 to resemble a Damascene rose, the Massar building had stood untouched for years, a monument to halted ambitions. Now, it has been transformed into an immersive showcase of resilience and imagination, featuring the powerful works of 29 rising Syrian artists.
Path is the first major exhibition of its kind since the fall of the Assad regime, offering a platform for art and a sanctuary for long-stifled voices.
We are still here, say Syrian creatives
Residents glimpsed what the country’s artistic landscape has to offer as they walked around the maze of intricate installations and unconventional creations, inside the Massar Rose building for the first time.
A sign by the Madad institute read: “We are here, we are still here, and we are from here. A path of 29 stories, similar to stories of all Syrians.”
Hundreds of visitors passed a mural named Accumulation in the vast space. The mural showcases four abstract paintings with burning candles that symbolise the essence of giving. The pieces, created by Dalaa Jalanbo, reflect the conflict of peace and forgiveness versus the burdens of history.
Jalanbo told The National: “We would often walk past this location and gaze in from the outside, but we could never enter or experience it from the inside. This space is crucial for us now. It should be a place of art.”
Excited Damascus residents took selfies and photos next to the artworks, which include a display of 300 suspended clay swords by artist Rala Tarabishi.
“I carried my anger and pain for years and used [the swords] as armour to protect myself, or so I thought,” Tarabishi explained. “My journey to reach a clear visual definition of forgiveness led me to realms of anger and hatred towards what hurts. These realms took the shape of several swords embedded in the ground, representing the situations we ultimately ended up forgiving or failing to pardon.”
She added: “When you embed your sword into the earth instead of using it as a weapon, you’re putting an end to the fight.”
Tarabishi is one of a crop of artists taught by Syrian artist Buthayna Ali, founder of the Madad Art Foundation, who died last year.
“Dr Ali is and will always be my main source of inspiration,” she said. “She always made us continue our fight as artists to show the world we’re here and deliver our messages through our work. Path is a gift from us, her 'children', to her for all the guidance and love she gave us.”
'We were not able to express ourselves'
Artist Zeinab Al-Abrar’s mixed media on canvas installation called (To) is another tale of forgiveness, as Syria look towards building a new future.
“This painting embodies the journey of inner peace, as it extends over seven metres of raw canvas, extending from the wall to the floor,” Al-Abrar said. "The random words reflect the emotional chaos and experiences since childhood, while the wrapped lower part symbolises the past.”
Telling this story in a once-uninhabitable location is a testament to the will of the country’s rising generation, she added.
“I never imagined we would be able to use this place. This should have happened years ago, but the place was not for us, like lots of things that were not for us. Now is our time to work on the country, on ourselves. We have a big responsibility. After the fall of the [Assad] regime, all the symbolism, life is now coming out, we were not able to express ourselves,” said Al-Abrar.
Fouad Khattar’s Sailing in the Storm installation attracts crowds with its complicated paper sculpture display that features a single boat carrying several smaller boats, surrounded by knives falling on it from all sides.
Attempting to symbolise the feeling of helplessness that a person experiences when they want to help others but cannot, Khattar’s work invites viewers to contemplate this human condition from afar.
The artist, 23, said: “The boat is similar to us. We are simple people but have a very complicated core. We are used to the idea that we will get somewhere. People see the boat and think about travelling. In this project I wanted to convey the fact that we are powerless to help those people on the boat.”
Two sisters, Razan and Malaz, were standing in front of a work called Hidden Dimension. They speak as one creative mind that they call “Orabi”, using the imagery of trees as a metaphorical exploration of visual evolution and the transformative power of human perception. Orabi says: “Orabi is one mind made by two, Orabi is that mind space. They say creativity is about 'thinking outside the box'. Orabi believes there is no box.”
'Is it worth carrying the burdens of hatred and regret?'
Artist Judi Chakhachirou’s Elapse provokes a deeper question, the artist says. “Ultimately, we must ask ourselves: Is it worth carrying the burdens of hatred and regret?”
Chakhachirou’s installation contemplates loss, regret and forgiveness. The viewer finds themselves within a vibrating circular space, at the centre of which a gravestone hangs from a rope, representing the connection between the present and the past. Chakhachirou added: “Every day, new stories are written about people who have departed us in various ways.”
Artist Hala Nahar reflects shared experiences and hopes for a better life in Syria in a video installation called Rebirth.
She told The National that feelings of hope were renewed or born after several events, including the fall of the Assad government. “Before the fall of the regime, my dream was to be able to express through art what we feel and our suffering in this country, without fearing for ourselves and our families.”
Kareem Al-Khateeb’s Us/As a Divided Camel is a surreal take, using four paintings representing the body parts of a camel, on the struggle of the human spirit. This artwork highlights resilience and adaptability in the face of challenges.
Al-Khateeb said: “My work embodies the suffering a person faces on their path to tolerance with their surroundings, such as society, country, friends and loved ones.
“They will undoubtedly be faced with two choices. The first is to not compromise and sacrifice, thus remaining a prisoner of themselves. The second, which also entails suffering, is a long series of sacrifices of ideas, convictions and other things to identify with their surroundings.”
As Syria emerges from more than 50 years of oppression, it is at a crossroads of tradition and transformation. Art serves as a means of healing and a reflection of its troubled history while offering a glimmer of hope for a brighter future.
Using the remains of a landmark from the Assad era as an open-air art gallery is an inspiring start towards reviving Syria’s cultural landscape.
The Path exhibition runs until April 18
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The five pillars of Islam
Walls
Louis Tomlinson
3 out of 5 stars
(Syco Music/Arista Records)
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
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The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
'Cheb%20Khaled'
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FIXTURES
December 28
Stan Wawrinka v Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Milos Raonic v Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 29 - semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Stan Wawrinka / Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic / Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 30
3rd/4th place play-off, 5pm
Final, 7pm
more from Janine di Giovanni
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie
Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)
Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy.
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
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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Rashid & Rajab
Director: Mohammed Saeed Harib
Stars: Shadi Alfons, Marwan Abdullah, Doaa Mostafa Ragab
Two stars out of five
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
The five new places of worship
Church of South Indian Parish
St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch
St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch
St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais
Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5