• In 2011, the International Academy of Art Palestine (IAAP) and artist Khaled Hourani organised an exhibition of Picasso's 'Buste de Femme' (1943) in Ramallah. The project, including the paintings that Hourani produced for it, aimed to investigate the complex procedures needed to bring the work to Palestine. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
    In 2011, the International Academy of Art Palestine (IAAP) and artist Khaled Hourani organised an exhibition of Picasso's 'Buste de Femme' (1943) in Ramallah. The project, including the paintings that Hourani produced for it, aimed to investigate the complex procedures needed to bring the work to Palestine. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
  • In his 'Picasso in Palestine' paintings, Hourani considers the politics around loaning artwork to Palestine. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
    In his 'Picasso in Palestine' paintings, Hourani considers the politics around loaning artwork to Palestine. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
  • 'Temporary Escape' by Sliman Mansour is made of cracked mud and acrylic on wood, showcasing a constract in material. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
    'Temporary Escape' by Sliman Mansour is made of cracked mud and acrylic on wood, showcasing a constract in material. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
  • In Nabil Anani's 'Olive Groves' series, the artist uses natural desiccated plants, straw and mixed media to create the landscape works. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
    In Nabil Anani's 'Olive Groves' series, the artist uses natural desiccated plants, straw and mixed media to create the landscape works. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
  • Anani's 'Olive Groves' series pay homage to Palestine's natural landscapes. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
    Anani's 'Olive Groves' series pay homage to Palestine's natural landscapes. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
  • Layering and stripping canvases, Tayseer Barakat tells the story of confinement and occupation through multiple scenes in 'Light in the Dark'. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
    Layering and stripping canvases, Tayseer Barakat tells the story of confinement and occupation through multiple scenes in 'Light in the Dark'. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
  • These small windows in Barakat's 'Light in the Dark' works reveal various aspects of the Palestinian struggle, including the Nakba, the Intifada, the wall and invasion of Palestinian towns. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
    These small windows in Barakat's 'Light in the Dark' works reveal various aspects of the Palestinian struggle, including the Nakba, the Intifada, the wall and invasion of Palestinian towns. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
  • Sliman Mansour's 'Revolution was the Beginning' traces the Palestinian fight for independence, from start of the displacement on the right to a march with the Palestinian flag on the left. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
    Sliman Mansour's 'Revolution was the Beginning' traces the Palestinian fight for independence, from start of the displacement on the right to a march with the Palestinian flag on the left. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
  • In 'A Letter For Her, A Letter For Fate', Wafa Hourani creates installations that resemble film sets showing imagined street life in Palestine. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
    In 'A Letter For Her, A Letter For Fate', Wafa Hourani creates installations that resemble film sets showing imagined street life in Palestine. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery

From Ramallah to Dubai: new exhibition looks at contrasting faces of Palestinian art


Alexandra Chaves
  • English
  • Arabic

It’s hard to talk about Palestine without talking about the occupation. The same goes for Palestinian art, in which resistance and identity continue to be central themes across decades of artistic production.

These narratives inevitably emerge in the Dubai exhibition Palestinian Art: Resilience and Inspiration at Zawyeh Gallery. The space was founded in Ramallah in 2013, and having participated at Art Dubai and Abu Dhabi Art on numerous occasions, the gallery opened in Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, this year. Its roster of artists, including those in the show, mostly live and work in Ramallah.

The exhibition opens with Sliman Mansour's Woman Picking Olives, a symbolic vision of the Palestinian connection to the land, as hinted by the tree and the traditional dress worn by the woman in the painting. It exemplifies the romanticism and nostalgia that Mansour's paintings are known for, though this mood begins to shift with the other works in the exhibition.

In comparison, Tayseer Barakat's Light in the Dark paintings are more abstract and haunting, reflecting not a dream-like version of Palestine, but its reality. His canvases contain many squares depicting scenes from the region's turbulent history, from the Nakba in 1948 and the Intifadas to the West Bank wall and Israeli invasions. Barakat produced the works by layering and gluing canvases on top of each other, ripping them off and repainting them to result in a moulting, textured surface that underscores the grimness of the subject.

Tayseer Barakat tells the story of confinement and occupation through multiple scenes in 'Light in the Dark'. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
Tayseer Barakat tells the story of confinement and occupation through multiple scenes in 'Light in the Dark'. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery

The contrast between Palestine rendered as an abstract ideal versus an existing complex territory repeats throughout the show. It is in these shifting perspectives that the show is able to find some footing. Revolution Was the Beginning, another work by Mansour, is brimming with defiance and nationalist sentiment as it traces the history of Palestinian resistance, replete with symbols of peace and the right to return. Nabil Anani's Demonstration series, showing the cohesiveness of an occupied community, also leans towards a broader, more hopeful view of Palestinian resilience.

Meanwhile, in another part of the exhibition, Khaled Hourani's paintings from his project Picasso in Palestine bring us back down from these reveries. Hourani's project involved a collaboration between the International Academy of Art Palestine, where the artist serves as artistic director, and the Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, to bring Picasso's Buste de Femme (1943) to Ramallah. The intention was not merely to show the work, but to explore the tangled process of, as Hourani described it, bringing art to a war zone.

Khaled Hourani's 'Picasso in Palestine #2', on view at the exhibition Palestinian Art: Resilience & Inspiration at Zawyeh Gallery. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
Khaled Hourani's 'Picasso in Palestine #2', on view at the exhibition Palestinian Art: Resilience & Inspiration at Zawyeh Gallery. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery

The endeavour took two years to materialise, though the masterpiece finally did in arrive in 2011. When it was displayed, it was flanked by Kalashnikov-wearing guards from the Palestinian authority. The surreal sight was captured in photos, which Hourani recreated in his paintings. On one level, they seem almost staged and comical, and on another, they are a reminder of the tension that rests beneath the surface of Palestinian daily life.

These differences also highlight the stylistic shift in Palestinian art over generations. Mansour and Anani were at the forefront of the Palestinian art movement in the 1970s. Their resistance to the occupation was not only expressed in the work, but in their process, too. In the 1980s and 1990s, the artists, including Barakat, boycotted Israeli art supplies and turned to local materials, instead. Mansour worked with clay, while Barakat used wood and fire. Anani turned to leather and dyes such as henna.

Nabil Anani's 'Palestinian House' (1993), made from leather and mixed media on wood. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
Nabil Anani's 'Palestinian House' (1993), made from leather and mixed media on wood. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery

Mansour and Anani have incorporated these materials into their recent works, which are more contemplative and emotive. Mansour's Temporary Escape, made with mud and acrylic on wood, reads like a psychological portrait, while Anani Olive Groves landscapes, made from mixed media are dream-like. Next to them are Hourani's portraits of Palestinian children leaping over the West Bank wall, telling us that resilience can be joyful, too.

Wafa Hourani's installations are a break from the more traditional mediums in the show. The Mirror Party shows a segment of the West Bank wall, also referred to by Palestinians as the Apartheid Wall, covered in a mirror sheet as a cutting critique of the idea that the issue can simply disappear or be beautified. His carefully constructed sculptural work A Letter for Her, A Letter of Fate resembles film sets and displays imaginary street scenes of life under occupation.

In 'A Letter For Her, A Letter For Fate', Wafa Hourani creates installations that resemble film sets showing imagined street life in Palestine. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery
In 'A Letter For Her, A Letter For Fate', Wafa Hourani creates installations that resemble film sets showing imagined street life in Palestine. Courtesy the artist and Zawyeh Gallery

For Zawyeh’s first exhibition in Dubai, the gallery has tried to demonstrate that there is no singular narrative to Palestinian resistance or resilience. Instead, the stories bear threads of idealism and political struggle, continually moving from memory to reality, from the abstract to the concrete.

Zawyeh’s opening in the UAE earlier this year was overshadowed by the pandemic, and while the space is now up and running, the question of whether it can remain so is still unanswered. Nonetheless, its arrival in the UAE opens up possibilities for Palestinian art to reach more international audiences.

Palestinian Art: Resilience and Inspiration is at Zawyeh Gallery in Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, until Wednesday, September 30

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

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 specs: Aston Martin DB11 V8 vs Ferrari GTC4Lusso T

Price, base: Dh840,000; Dh120,000

Engine: 4.0L V8 twin-turbo; 3.9L V8 turbo

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic; seven-speed automatic

Power: 509hp @ 6,000rpm; 601hp @ 7,500rpm

Torque: 695Nm @ 2,000rpm; 760Nm @ 3,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.9L / 100km; 11.6L / 100km

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%3Cp%3EDeveloper%3A%20Pillow%20Castle%20Games%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Pillow%20Castle%20Games%0D%3Cbr%3EConsole%3A%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20Xbox%20Series%20One%20%26amp%3B%20X%2FS%2C%20Nintendo%20Switch%2C%20PC%20and%20Mac%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

The Kingfisher Secret
Anonymous, Penguin Books

Leading all-time NBA scorers

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
Karl Malone 36,928
Kobe Bryant 33,643
Michael Jordan 32,292
LeBron James 31,425
Wilt Chamberlain 31,419

RESULTS

Argentina 4 Haiti 0

Peru 2 Scotland 0

Panama 0 Northern Ireland 0

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Nepotism is the name of the game

Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad. 

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%3Cp%3ECompany%3A%20Zywa%3Cbr%3EStarted%3A%202021%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Nuha%20Hashem%20and%20Alok%20Kumar%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20UAE%3Cbr%3EIndustry%3A%20FinTech%3Cbr%3EFunding%20size%3A%20%243m%3Cbr%3ECompany%20valuation%3A%20%2430m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Gully Boy

Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi​​​​​​​
Rating: 4/5 stars

Meydan race card

6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
7.05pm: Handicap Dh 185,000 2,000m
7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap Dh 190,000 1,400m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,200m
10pm: Handicap Dh 165,000 1,600m

Tree of Hell

Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla

Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

The Freedom Artist

By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)