One of the world’s most wacky art collectives is coming to Dubai.
Hungry Castle, a Barcelona- based collaborative art platform dedicated to creating eccentric, large-scale public art, has teamed up with Simon Coates, a Dubai-based artist and former manager of Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Centre to bring projects to the UAE.
Original Hungry Castle members Dave Glass and Killian Cooper were behind such pieces as Lionel Richie’s Head, which appeared at the British music festival Bestival in 2013.
The installation was a three-metre, inflatable, hollow sculpture of the American singer’s head. People queued to get inside and once there, a phone on the wall rang to greet audiences with Richie’s most famous song lyric: “Hello, is it me you’re looking for?”
They are working on a similar inflatable project called Nicolas Cage in a Cage, which will be launched at the Splendour In the Grass music festival in Australia next month.
Coates, who has an interest in sound art, and was instrumental in bringing British Turner Prize winner Jeremy Deller’s artwork to Dubai last year, contacted Hungry Castle when he heard about its projects and met up with the members when they passed through Dubai on their way back to their studios in Barcelona.
When he left Ductac in May, he offered to open a Hungry Castle Middle East office in Dubai, which is now up and running.
Although there are no specific details about upcoming UAE projects, Coates says that this part of the world is ready for the Hungry Castle style of art. Its public artworks are funded by the Hungry Castle fashion brand, which is popular in Europe and the United States and is planning to launch in the Middle East.
“I think this part of the world is ripe for this kind of freely accessible artwork,” he says. “Dubai is always open to new ways of celebrating and it feels right that we make moves out here.
“Although the work is kind of goofy, it’s art, first and foremost. I think that there are still a lot of conversations to be had as to what constitutes art here, and one of the intentions behind these pieces is to expand on those discussions.”
Another well-known Hungry Castle project is Laser Cat – a huge cat’s head whose eyes beam artworks on to the sides of buildings and structures. It debuted in Barcelona, then moved to Brooklyn, New York, and has just come back from the Les Folies arts festival in France.
Coates says he plans to bring Laser Cat and other projects to the UAE but is also open to commissions and collaborations.
The subject of public art in the UAE is one that is constantly discussed and is seen as a challenge because it can be difficult to get permissions.
Coates says he plans to overcome this by not only targeting art events but also music festivals.
“The remit is quite wide and, even though we’re only just opening the office, everyone I’ve spoken to so far is bowled over by what they see,” he says. “I think the originality factor is going to help to open doors.”
Also, each project will rely heavily on public engagement.
“Art doesn’t have to be on a gallery wall, it can exist anywhere and anyone can have their say and get involved,” says Coates.
“These pieces are less tangible as commercial commodities, so there’s also a great opportunity to show people that ambitious artworks don’t have to be put up for sale to exist in their own right.
“It’s worth noting, too, that every time we set up a piece we actively rely on the general public to get involved.
“This isn’t just in terms of interaction – we actually work with local volunteers who become Hungry Castle team members for the duration of the work, and these people help make the whole thing happen.”
• Visit www.hungrycastle.com
aseaman@thenational.ae
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Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
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Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
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
GAC GS8 Specs
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Dir: Taika Waititi
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson
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LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The UAE's journey to space
if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
