In the frame: The 20 Arab artists, musicians and designers who triumphed in 2020

Faced with a pandemic and a cultural reckoning around race and inequality, the art world is navigating a challenging era.

In the region, the Beirut blast brought its own devastation, claiming lives and livelihoods, as well as heritage and art spaces in the Lebanese capital. Despite all of this, artists, institutions and galleries have remained resilient, adapting to our new reality with online initiatives and creating art to address issues, as well as raise awareness or funds for frontline workers, social justice groups and charities.

Here, we look at Arab artists who have pursued major projects despite the difficulties of the year or have received notable awards that honour their work.

This is the third and final list in The National's series of 50 Arab stars, including filmmakers and writers, of 2020.

Bahjat

The talented singer-songwriter has put Libya on the regional pop music map. Fulfilling the promise of last year's impressive track Istanbul, Bahat (full name Bahjat Alturjman) released his career-best single Halba in April. The breezy synth-pop tune is a revelation in that it shows how good the Libyan dialect sounds in pop music form. It is both strident and elastic. It can be elongated to stretch out a note or clipped to sharp staccato to provide an extra surge of rhythm. No wonder it was immediately placed in Spotify's influential regional playlist Arab X – a guaranteed way to spread the word about the talented independent artist.

Farah Al Qasimi

In her vibrant, and sometimes fantastical, photographs, Abu Dhabi-born Al Qasimi reflects on everyday life and consumer culture in the Gulf. In January, as part of a project for the Public Art Fund, she transformed 100 public bus shelters in New York City to art installations, covering them in 17 images of immigrant communities in Queens and Brooklyn.

Freek

Where last year he went on his first overseas tour to the UK, Somali rapper and Dubai resident Freek notched another milestone, thanks to his video for the hit single Wala Kilma. Shot from a rundown Soviet-era aircraft in the middle of the Umm Al Quwain desert, the video continues to soar, having achieved more than a million streams on YouTube, a landmark achievement for the independent artist.

Fatma Said

While the pandemic severely curtailed her international touring plans, the Egyptian soprano still managed to make her mark on the classical music scene. This year, she signed up to major label Warner Classics, as well releasing her well-received debut album El Nour. The record has her taking on an eclectic collection of traditional songs from French, Spanish and Egyptian composers.

Hassan Hajjaj

His fusion of pop art with Middle Eastern references makes his work some of the most recognisable. The Moroccan artist, who often creates from his studio in London, photographed singer Billie Eilish for Vogue this year. He has also leaned into fashion, and this month launched a '90s hip-hop-inspired eyewear collection.

Khtek

While the fierce Moroccan rapper's music may deal with local concerns, Khtek's voice has been heard far and wide with the artist listed as part of the BBC's 100 Women of 2020. Khtek (real name Houda Abouz) has carved out a space for female talents in Morocco's hip-hop scene over her four-year career. In January, she appeared on the boisterous track Hors Serie on which she more than held her own alongside Moroccan hip-hop leaders ElGrandeToto, Don Bigg and Draganov.

Mika

The singer has often spoken about his affection for Beirut, but he has never expressed it as clearly as with his affecting online concert dedicated to his native Lebanon. Blending performance with documentary-style images of the extensive destruction in Beirut in the wake of the port explosion, as well as interviews with survivors, September's I Love Beirut concert remains a stirring tribute to a resilient city picking itself up from the wreckage.

Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim

One of the most prominent artists in the Emirates and a member of the avant-garde group that forged the country's contemporary art scene, Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim will represent the UAE at the 59th Venice Biennale in 2022. His work builds on his connection to the local landscape in his home of Khor Fakkan, resulting in totemic sculptures and paintings made of organic materials.

Mohamed Bourouissa

The French-Algerian artist, whose work looks at power structures and disenfranchised communities, won this year's Deutsche Borse Photography Foundation Prize for his exhibition Free Trade. Bourouissa's subjects are often those who live on the margins of society – young men of colour in Paris's suburbs, or banlieues, which reflects his own experience with discrimination.

Munira Al Sayegh

Emirati writer and curator Munira Al Sayegh, from Abu Dhabi, has curated exhibitions for Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Art Dubai and UAE Unlimited. This year, she and fellow writer Gaith Abdulla founded 101, an online platform for emerging artists in the UAE to sell artworks directly to collectors, eschewing the traditional gallery model.

Nour Flayhan

Known for her psychedelic images of young women, Nour Flayhan takes her inspiration from childhood memories of summers in Lebanon. Her work gained attention on social media after the October 17 protests in Beirut last year, with illustrations of the faces of Lebanese people who took to the streets. After the Beirut blast in August, the illustrator joined other artists in raising funds for charities in Lebanon by accepting commissions for her work.

Omar Offendum

Syrian-American Omar Offendum released an album in September that marked his importance in the Middle Eastern hip-hop canon. Lost in Translation is a bilingual love letter to the region in terms of beats and words. Buttressing Offendum's Arabic and English lyrics is the production work from compatriot Thanks Joey. The producer and audio engineer embellishes his swaggering beats with samples taken from classic Syrian films.

Rami Kadi

A principal name in the world of couture, Lebanese designer Rami Kadi took another impressive stride in his career this year by becoming the UN Goodwill Ambassador for sustainable fashion in west Asia, for his long-time ethical-fashion advocacy. In his spring / summer 2020 collection, he created a dress made entirely out of plastic recovered from the ocean; even the sequins were made from reused plastic, Kadi told The National. He was also the first designer in the region to launch a virtual fashion show, before they became necessary owing to the pandemic.

Red One

One of the world's biggest pop producers and new UAE resident RedOne had another stellar year at home and abroad. When it comes to the latter, the Moroccan-Swedish pop-meister (real name Nadir Khayat) had another track, Kings & Queens, which he co-produced for singer Ava Max, top the US charts. Meanwhile in the UAE, he produced and duetted with Emirati singer Ahlam on Together, this year's official anthem for Dubai's entertainment and shopping destination Global Village.

Sandra Saad

A year ago American-Egyptian actress Sandra Saad announced she would be voicing Ms Marvel in the Marvel's Avengers video game. With the release of the video game in September, fans finally got to see the elastic-limbed superhero in action outside the comic books for the first time. And though she shares a storyline with better-known Marvel characters such as Iron Man and Thor, Saad not only manages to ensure that the character gets noticed, but also delivers a show-stealing performance.

Shaima Al Tamimi

Weaving her documentary photography with her own personal history, Yemeni-Kenyan photographer Shaima Al Tamimi, who also grew up in Abu Dhabi, explores issues of migration and identity in her work. This year, she received the Photography and Social Justice Fellowship from the Magnum Foundation.

Soolking

It is a rare feat for a rapper to top Eminem in any hip-hop list. This is what Algeria's Soolking did in May when streaming service Deezer named him the most streamed artist in Africa on its platform. The Guerilla and Dalida rapper beat Eminem and Drake, who secured third and fourth place respectively.

Sultan Bin Fahad

Saudi Prince Sultan bin Fahad broke into the art scene last year with his sprawling exhibition The Red Palace, shown in Riyadh and Jeddah, which featured objects collected by the artist from the kingdom's flea markets. The show travelled to Abu Dhabi's Cultural Foundation this year, and in November, bin Fahad staged his first solo exhibition in Europe, held in Rome, titled Frequency.

Tarek Atoui

Known for exploring music history and creating experimental instruments, the Beirut-born sound artist and composer was recently awarded the 2022 Suzanne Deal Booth / Flag Art Foundation prize, one of the largest art prizes in the US. In addition to the cash prize, Atoui – who was at the centre of a major solo exhibition at the Sharjah Art Foundation this year – will present a show at The Contemporary Austin, in Texas, in spring 2022.

Zuhair Murad

World-famous Lebanese fashion designer Zuhair Murad was directly affected by the Beirut port explosion in August. His 11-storey Gemmayze studio was severely damaged by the blast. "My heart is broken. Can't stop crying. The efforts of years went in a moment," he wrote on his social media channels, posting pictures of the devastated site. The next day, Murad received the first copy of a book written by author and fashion critic Alexander Fury that celebrates Murad's work.

The book, Murad told The National in November, gave him the morale boost he needed, imbuing him with "a new spirit and outlook". In the weeks after the blast, the designer ran a fundraising campaign through the design of a T-shirt that had the words: Rise from the Ashes, featuring Jennifer Lopez, Shakira and Celine Dion.

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The specs: 2019 Haval H6

Price, base: Dh69,900

Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km

Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

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

A group of students have put Zaki Nusseibeh's private art collection on show in Abu Dhabi

Culture and the creative spirit have great value in these uncertain times

Company%20profile

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More on Quran memorisation:

How Quran memorisation helps 'train the brain'

Teenage girls recite the Quran flawlessly, despite speaking no Arabic

Sun jukebox

Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)

This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.

Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)

The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.

Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)

Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.

Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)

Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.

Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)

An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.

Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)

Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.

Three tips from La Perle's performers

1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.

2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.

3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.

MATCH INFO

Manchester United 2 (Heaton (og) 42', Lindelof 64')

Aston Villa 2 (Grealish 11', Mings 66')

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Episode list:

Ep1: A recovery like no other- the unevenness of the economic recovery

Ep2: PCR and jobs - the future of work - new trends and challenges

Ep3: The recovery and global trade disruptions - globalisation post-pandemic

Ep4: Inflation- services and goods - debt risks

Ep5: Travel and tourism

Cracks in the Wall

Ben White, Pluto Press

'Worse than a prison sentence'

Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.

“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.

“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.

“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.

“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.

“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”

More from Neighbourhood Watch:

The changing face of Mussaffah

Hatta, where present and past collide

How old Dubai moved with the times and kept its heart

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 burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

While you're here

Ed Husain: The far left is trying to hijack Muslim minds in the West

Sulaiman Hakemy: Why it is very important to lose elections

Rashmee Roshan Lall: US race relations in three words

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

Jordan cabinet changes

In

Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth

Out

Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture