The Abu Dhabi Festival is making an impression beyond the UAE.
In addition to an extensive programme of performances and exhibitions in the capital, the festival is simultaneously running an international calendar of cultural events, in the US and Europe.
The main offering of this year’s international outreach is the world premiere of dance production De Scheherazade a Yo, Carmen by flamenco star Maria Pages.
A joint project between Pages and Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu, the show made its debut on Friday in the Spanish city, with four performances spanning a week.
The arresting production pays tribute to formidable women of literature and the stage, ranging from the title character of Bizet’s 19th-century opera Carmen to Scheherazade from the novel One Thousand and One Nights.
Personalities from Greek mythology make an appearance, too, such as the powerful sorceress Medea, in addition to the tragic housewife Yerma, the titular character of Spanish playwright Federico Lorca’s 1934 play.
Led by Pages and members from her youthful dance company, the characters are celebrated as much for their fierceness as their sensitivity.
Minimal and raw, the show's stark presentation encourages the audience to view the characters as women unburdened by societal conventions and speaking truth to power.
De Scheherazade a Yo, Carmen is brilliantly compelling.
The show has already received critical acclaim — with leading Spanish paper El Pais describing the opening night's show as "beautiful, hypnotic and has an overwhelming force" — ahead of the production embarking on a two-year world tour taking in Europe and South America. An Abu Dhabi show is not yet on the cards.
"A key mission for us is to create awareness about how beautiful flamenco can be and to share that Spanish heritage with the world," Pages tells The National.
“But at the same time this is generally challenging because it is getting harder to bring young audiences to the theatre because of the entertainment options they have.
"So to see the first show full of youth under 35 years was the most special part of the night. Their marvellous reaction is very encouraging as we go forward."
The global message of Abu Dhabi Festival
De Scheherazade a Yo, Carmen has some of the hallmarks of an Abu Dhabi Festival collaboration.
This includes a strong partnership with a formidable cultural organisation featuring seasoned international and regional artists tackling new ground within their respective craft.
Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, the festival’s artistic director and founder of its administering body, the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, says the international programme serves a wider purpose.
“It is our contribution to cultural diplomacy,” she says.
“By partnering up with more than 35 of the greatest international institutions to create new works, commissions and productions, the festival opens doors for people both in Abu Dhabi and around the globe to discover the world’s greatest talents.”
These partnerships also feed into the UAE side of the festival, leading to more high-calibre shows being performed in Abu Dhabi, as well as masterclasses and workshops led by stars and industry leaders.
In Pages, the festival has found a forward-thinking collaborator.
Born in Seville, the dancer and choreographer built a four-decade career through which she is credited for fusing flamenco with elements of modern dance and theatre.
In addition to choreographing sequences for director Carlos Saura's celebrated trilogy of flamenco films (1983's Carmen, 1986's El Amor Brujo and 1995's Flamenco) Pages also teamed up with Riverdance to incorporate a flamenco section during their 1995 world tour.
Pages says the performers will embody Abu Dhabi's outward-looking ethos when De Scheherazade a Yo, Carmen hits the road later in the year.
“These kinds of partnerships are becoming rare and it really shows how Abu Dhabi, as a city as well as the festival, is really becoming a global centre for culture,” Pages says.
“This is already well known within the arts industry and when you become involved in a collaboration with the festival it is not only about the performance.
"It is also about being in line with the festival’s values and we hope to embody that with our performances.”
Abu Dhabi Festival's international programme in 2022 also includes the online release of Symphony #5, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and scored by Emirati composer Mohammed Fairouz.
Also coming up is Zigzag, a co-production by the American Ballet Theatre which premiered in 2021 and continues with a new season at New York City’s Metropolitan Opera House from July 7.
Spain and the Arab world: a rich history
Ever since the inaugural Abu Dhabi Festival in 2004, Spain has played a major role in the event at home and abroad.
Spanish opera titans Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo played in the UAE in 2007 and 2013 respectively.
As well as the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the festival also signed a partnership with Madrid’s Teatro Real for a staging of Verdi’s opera Aida in October.
Such cultural contributions have led to Alkhamis-Kanoo being awarded The Commander of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic by the former king of Spain Juan Carlos in 2016.
“With Spain we share values of innovation, creation and respect,” Kanoo says.
“Spain and the Arab world share a cultural history that dates back to the 9th century from the time of Ziryab who revolutionised music by introducing the oud to Spain and Europe and who established the first conservatoire in the world, teaching its students harmony and composition.”
This is an aspect not lost on El Arbi El Harti, the Moroccan-Spanish playwright and lyricist of De Scheherazade a Yo, Carmen.
He tells The National that many forms of Spanish music and dance are borne from the marriage of Arabic and rural Spanish culture.
“It is very dynamic because you have the Arabs who remained in the Spanish peninsula after their expulsion by the Catholic Spanish kings,” he says.
“They found themselves amid the Spanish rural communities and it is their mix of high Arabic culture with the popular rural Spanish class that saw the arts in Spain evolve.
“I can say without doubt that the evolution of flamenco has an Arabic influence fundamentally.”
Alkhamis-Kanoo hopes to inspire such realisations by taking the Abu Dhabi Festival global.
“We do want to be a beacon of knowledge and platform for artistic innovation and cultural expression,” she says.
“It is not only important, but imperative that we present new productions globally, because their message will remain for humanity, inspiring new generations to look beyond our differences and come together in mutual understanding and respect.”
More information about the Abu Dhabi Festival is available at abudhabifestival.ae
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
THE SPECS
Cadillac XT6 2020 Premium Luxury
Engine: 3.6L V-6
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 310hp
Torque: 367Nm
Price: Dh280,000
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 Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE.
“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.
“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
British Grand Prix free practice times in the third and final session at Silverstone on Saturday (top five):
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:28.063 (18 laps)
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:28.095 (14)
3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1:28.137 (20)
4. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 1:28.732 (15)
5. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault) 1:29.480 (14)
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
The National selections:
6.30pm AF Alwajel
7.05pm Ekhtiyaar
7.40pm First View
8.15pm Benbatl
8.50pm Zakouski
9.25pm: Kimbear
10pm: Chasing Dreams
10.35pm: Good Fortune
DUBAI CARNIVAL RESULTS
6.30pm Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner Dubai Future, Harry Bentley (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).
7.05pm UAE 1000 Guineas Listed $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner Dubai Love, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
7.40pm Dubai Dash Listed $175,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner: Equilateral, James Doyle, Charles Hills.
8.15pm Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions $100,000 (D) 1.900m
Winner Laser Show, Kevin Stott, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Al Fahidi Fort Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Glorious Journey, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner George Villiers, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
MATCH INFO
Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE
