Zeina Arida was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by France in 2019. Zeina Arida
Zeina Arida was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by France in 2019. Zeina Arida
Zeina Arida was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by France in 2019. Zeina Arida
Zeina Arida was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by France in 2019. Zeina Arida

Zeina Arida: 'Maybe for us in Lebanon, the coronavirus is less of a shock'


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Like millions of people worldwide, Zeina Arida is self-isolating at home amid the coronavirus pandemic. Home for her is the Lebanese capital, Beirut, where she has spent the past few weeks indoors as part of the largest quarantine in human history.  

As director of Sursock Museum – a modern and contemporary art museum in the centre of Beirut, which first opened in 1961 – Arida has been at the forefront of her country’s cultural and arts scene for more than two decades.

Since Lebanon’s civil war, from 1975 to 1990, advocates of arts and culture have often found it hard to get their voices heard amid the chaos – and today’s global pandemic has only added to their concerns.

“Maybe we have had a preparatory phase since October 17,” says Arida, referring to the eruption of mass anti-government demonstrations in Lebanon last year, which brought the nation to a near standstill, but have now fizzled out amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

“Maybe for us in Lebanon, the coronavirus is less of a shock than for other people in the world because we had already changed our way of life,” she says.

Before the worldwide shutdown, Lebanon’s cultural sphere was already on shaky ground. For example, earlier this year, Beirut’s Metropolis Empire Sofil cinema was forced to close down. As the home of art-house movies, the two-screen theatre had hosted screenings, festivals and events for more than a decade.

A statement on its website, dated Tuesday, January 21, laments “the difficult economic situation” and says that in “light of the ongoing popular uprising in Lebanon, we are inspired to re-evaluate our priorities and rethink our working structure”.

For cultural stalwart Arida, the closure of Metropolis was a bitter pill to swallow. “In September, Sursock hosted a fundraiser for Metropolis because they were facing difficult financial issues,” says Arida, who herself has been forced to close the Sursock Museum’s doors due to the Covid-19 crisis.

'Paralysed' by the uprisings

Lebanon’s fraught political situation, arising from such incidents as the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri in 2005, and the simmering military standoff between Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Israel, has made this Mediterranean coastal state one of the most volatile countries in the region.

Arida says that popular protests against government corruption and the country’s dire economic situation “only accelerated what was going to happen”.

Having made her name as director of Beirut’s Arab Image Foundation from 1997-2014, Arida is well placed to speak on Lebanon’s cultural wellbeing.

She says while Sursock became “paralysed” following the mass uprisings, it was simply a response to a political and economic crisis that started long before the protests began.

But as she works from her Beirut home, now amid an international health crisis that has claimed tens of thousands of lives worldwide, Arida continues to plan Sursock’s future, even if the future of Lebanon remains uncertain.

A history in the art world 

Born in Beirut in 1970, Arida is no stranger to the ups and downs of her homeland. In 1983, then a teenager, she left for Paris as the 15-year civil war raged on in Lebanon with impunity. In France, she read literature and theatre at the Sorbonne University and returned to her birthplace, post-war in 1993. Lebanon was then rebuilding its political, economic and structural foundations from the smouldering ashes of a long conflict.

Financially this coronavirus global pandemic is going to make things even harder

Stints with Unesco, the French Cultural Centre and the French Embassy led her to a fledgling organisation, the founders of which were looking for someone to set up an office. In November 1997, Arida took the reins of the non-profit Arab Image Foundation – which today hosts a 500,000-strong photo archive, dating back to the 1860s, from much of the Middle East and its diaspora – and she has not looked back since.

She assumed the directorship of Sursock, housed in an ornate Beirut mansion dating from 1912, right as the museum prepared to reopen after several years in the wilderness.

Zeina Arida during the opening of the Pablo Picasso show at Sursock Museum in September 2019. Zeina Arida
Zeina Arida during the opening of the Pablo Picasso show at Sursock Museum in September 2019. Zeina Arida

In 2008, it had closed for a major renovation project worth $15 million (Dh55.1m), which expanded the building’s total surface area by five times. “I was hired to prepare for the [2015] reopening,” she says. “I was hired with the opportunity to rethink the whole museum.”

Under her stewardship, the museum welcomed 80,000 visitors in 2019. And last autumn, Sursock hosted Lebanon’s first exhibition of works by Pablo Picasso – titled Picasso et la famille – which ran until January.

While the world remains in lockdown, a host of museums and galleries have set up digital retrospectives. Arida, too, is keen to highlight Sursock’s recently released virtual tour of one its exhibitions, Baalbek, Archives of an Eternity.

Yet, she remains concerned for the country’s cultural future. Arida says while Lebanon is in constant flux, owing to politics and now this virus, it is hard to be hopeful.

“It will be even more fragile and just another struggle,” she says of Lebanon’s arts sector, once the virus has died out and the country tries to adapt to a post-Covid-19 world. “Because financially this coronavirus global pandemic is going to make things even harder,” she says.

Even so, if anyone in Lebanon will fight tooth and nail for the art community, it is Arida. Early last year, she was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government – Lebanon’s one-time colonial master. The order is in recognition of Arida’s distinguished career spent promoting her country’s cultural history – something she intends to continue doing, not least in the difficult months ahead.

“As art and cultural institutions, we do reflect on our contemporary times – otherwise you become irrelevant” she says. “In that sense Covid-19 will definitely change a lot of our work.”

HWJN
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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
The Bio

Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.

Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.

Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.

Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.

Expert advice

“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”

Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles

“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”

Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre 

“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”

Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
 

Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Blah

Started: 2018

Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri

Based: Dubai

Industry: Technology and talent management

Initial investment: Dh20,000

Investors: Self-funded

Total customers: 40

Brief scores:

Southampton 2

Armstrong 13', Soares 20'

Manchester United 2

Lukaku 33', Herrera 39'

Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
​​​​​​​Penguin Press

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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 specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

MATCH INFO

What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

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

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi

Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe

For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.

Golden Dallah

For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.

Al Mrzab Restaurant

For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.

Al Derwaza

For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup. 

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

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THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)

Power: 141bhp 

Torque: 250Nm 

Price: Dh64,500

On sale: Now

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

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Where can I submit a sample?

Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.

Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:

  • Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
  • Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
  • Al Towayya in Al Ain
  • NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
  • Bareen International Hospital
  • NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
  • NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
  • NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
Marathon results

Men:

 1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13 

2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50 

3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25 

4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46 

5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48  

Women:

1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30 

2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01 

3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30 

4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43 

5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01