• RAK Art Foundation in Bahrain opened in December 2020 featuring Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa's private collection and own oeuvre. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
    RAK Art Foundation in Bahrain opened in December 2020 featuring Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa's private collection and own oeuvre. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
  • First wall painting by Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifa at the age of 16, showcased in RAK Art Foundation, a newly opened art gallery in Bahrain. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
    First wall painting by Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifa at the age of 16, showcased in RAK Art Foundation, a newly opened art gallery in Bahrain. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
  • RAK Art Foundation is located in Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifa's renovated childhood home in Bahrain. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
    RAK Art Foundation is located in Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifa's renovated childhood home in Bahrain. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
  • From left: 'The Honor and Glory of Whaling' (1991) by Frank Stella, and 'Man on a Horse' (2008) by Fernando Botero, at RAK Art Foundation in Riffa, Bahrain. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
    From left: 'The Honor and Glory of Whaling' (1991) by Frank Stella, and 'Man on a Horse' (2008) by Fernando Botero, at RAK Art Foundation in Riffa, Bahrain. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
  • 'Oro' (2009) by Juan Genoves, acrylic on canvas, shown at RAK Art Foundation in Bahrain. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
    'Oro' (2009) by Juan Genoves, acrylic on canvas, shown at RAK Art Foundation in Bahrain. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
  • 'Spectrum' (2021), a series by Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifa, exhibited at the RAK Art Foundation. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
    'Spectrum' (2021), a series by Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifa, exhibited at the RAK Art Foundation. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
  • An external view of RAK Art Foundation in Bahrain. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
    An external view of RAK Art Foundation in Bahrain. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
  • From left: 'La Vie' (1995) by Kenji Yoshida, and 'A Horns Chair' (1995) by Ron Arad, at RAK Art Foundation. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
    From left: 'La Vie' (1995) by Kenji Yoshida, and 'A Horns Chair' (1995) by Ron Arad, at RAK Art Foundation. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
  • From left: 'Pulse' (2000) by Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifa and 'Untitled (Series)' (2012) by Rafa Al Nasiri, at RAK Art Foundation. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
    From left: 'Pulse' (2000) by Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifa and 'Untitled (Series)' (2012) by Rafa Al Nasiri, at RAK Art Foundation. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
  • The door of RAK Art Foundation in Bahrain. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
    The door of RAK Art Foundation in Bahrain. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi

Bahrain's RAK Art Foundation: inside Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa's new art gallery


  • English
  • Arabic

Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, a member of Bahrain's royal family, has unveiled his extensive art collection to the public in his newly opened gallery in Riffa.

The RAK Art Foundation, situated in the converted traditional Bahraini house, where the painter and first president of the Bahrain Arts Society was raised, contains myriad works from international artists and includes a new space dedicated to his oeuvre.

Built in the 1920s, the restored building maintains its original walls and colonnade alongside new additions and repurposed spaces, which opened to visitors in December. Sheikh Rashid’s childhood bedroom is now an office-cum-library that stands beside his first artworks, which were painted directly onto the wall when he was 16 years old.

Sheikh Rashid has been an avid art collector since he was young and aims to encourage others to follow his lead with this new hub. "I hope that when guests visit the RAK Art Foundation, they might feel inspired to develop their own collections, or at the very least acknowledge the importance of sharing art with others," he tells The National.

“Not only does this benefit artists, in turn it helps grow a market and improves a culture of arts appreciation that is necessary and needed.”

'The Honor and Glory of Whaling' (1991) by Frank Stella at RAK Art Foundation in Bahrain. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi
'The Honor and Glory of Whaling' (1991) by Frank Stella at RAK Art Foundation in Bahrain. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi

The range of works on display is impressive. A huge piece by American artist Frank Stella dominates one room of the gallery. Wrought from aluminium and magnesium, his 1991 creation The Honor and Glory of Whaling draws its inspiration from Herman Melville's Moby Dick. Indeed, the work seems to crash like waves over the surface of the wall, chaotic and disorderly.

In contrast, La Vie (1995), by Kenji Yoshida, presents a tranquillity that belies the Japanese artist's harrowing experiences as a Kamikaze pilot conscripted during the Second World War.

Yoshida claimed he planned to crash his plane into the sea in order to avoid killing others, but this proximity to certain death – averted only by the end of the war – affected the artist profoundly, and his work celebrates the importance of life and peace.

'La Vie' (1995) by Kenji Yoshida, comprising gold leaf, platinum leaf and oil on canvas. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi.
'La Vie' (1995) by Kenji Yoshida, comprising gold leaf, platinum leaf and oil on canvas. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi.

Visitors will also get the chance to see work by Spanish painter Juan Genoves, who died last year after becoming one of the key figures in the revival of Spain’s artistic scene, following the end of Francisco Franco’s dictatorial regime.

Genoves's 2009 work Oro gives us a birds-eye view of crowds fleeing bombings but, rather than an indistinguishable mass of humanity, his work attempts to give individuality and distinctness to his tiny figures.

The newest building at the RAK Art Foundation houses the work of Sheikh Rashid. Spectrum is a series of pieces that examines his enduring relationship with colour. Each work presents the opportunity for the viewer to develop a personal reaction to them. As they transition from one colour to another, its identity is altered.

Spectrum allows visitors to see Sheikh Rashid's works in context, with each element dependent on its placement within the surrounding environment, the emotional state of the viewer and the mind of the artist.

For Sheikh Rashid, the act of collecting is an articulation of the self. “Bahrain has long been rich in culture and tradition. Perhaps we have long understood how collections of objects that we happen across and connect with, help us express our identity.”

Unannounced visits are not permitted, and appointments can be booked online. Visitors can reserve a tour of the collection conducted by curator and consultant Yasmin Sharabi.

'Spectrum' (2021), a series by Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifa, exhibited at the RAK Art Foundation in Riffa, Bahrain. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi.
'Spectrum' (2021), a series by Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifa, exhibited at the RAK Art Foundation in Riffa, Bahrain. Courtesy RAK Art Foundation / Marine Terlizzi.
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Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule

1st Test July 26-30 in Galle

2nd Test August 3-7 in Colombo

3rd Test August 12-16 in Pallekele

What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

EMILY%20IN%20PARIS%3A%20SEASON%203
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Du Football Champions

The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.

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 Matrix Resurrections

Director: Lana Wachowski

Stars:  Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick 

Rating:****

FIGHT%20CARD
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RESULT

Manchester United 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Man United: Dunk (66' og)

Man of the Match: Shane Duffy (Brighton)

The specs

Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic

Power: 375bhp

Torque: 520Nm

Price: Dh332,800

On sale: now