Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani pose for a family photo with Arab leaders during the 34th Arab League Summit in Baghdad. Reuters
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani pose for a family photo with Arab leaders during the 34th Arab League Summit in Baghdad. Reuters
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani pose for a family photo with Arab leaders during the 34th Arab League Summit in Baghdad. Reuters
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani pose for a family photo with Arab leaders during the 34th Arab League Summit in Baghdad. Reuters

Artwork towering over Arab Summit aims to show beauty of Iraq's past and present


Fatima Al Mahmoud
  • English
  • Arabic

Regional leaders gathered in Baghdad on Saturday to attend the annual Arab League Summit. They commemorated the union with a group image that joins the ranks of the yearly photos.

However, towering above this year’s portrait is a piece of art that consolidates the choice to host the summit in Iraq for the first time in more than a decade.

Holding the annual summit in Baghdad has been seen as a symbolic moment for the country, which is still struggling to emerge from decades of war, instability and diplomatic isolation.

But the striking piece of art hanging in the presidential palace, under which discussions and addresses on regional matters were held, aims to show that beauty can be created out of Iraq's past, said artist Ahmad Hussein El Zaim.

Titled ‘Sahil El Hadarat’, which roughly translates into ‘The Neighing of Civilisations’, the mural combines symbolisms of the Sumerian, Assyrian, Akkadian, and Babylonian civilisations, all of which shaped ancient Mesopotamia.

The white horse in the centre, which ties all the other horses representing the different eras together, represents Iraq today: a melting pot of civilisations, explained the artist.

All these leaders come from a different background, a different civilisation, and they meet here under the painting portraying Iraq as the cradle of cultures and civilisations
Ahmad Hussein El Zaim,
Iraqi artist

The bricks in the background of the painting were inspired by Ishtar Gate, the eighth gate to the inner city of Babylon and a national symbol of modern Iraq, Mr El Zaim told The National.

The piece was created using different raw materials, including leather and wood. The abstract artist’s signature style involves leather burning to create rustic hues and an earthy texture. He then adds patchwork and sharp geometric lines to create a sense of movement in the image.

The abstract artist first created the artwork in 2022, when it was selected to permanently hang in Baghdad’s presidential palace.

Filled with pride

The artwork has since witnessed visits and talks with regional and international officials, including attendees of the Arab Summit this year, which had Gaza at the top of its agenda.

Attendees included Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Sheikh Tamim, Emir of Qatar, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who was invited as a guest of honour.

“It really fills my heart with pride to see my work displayed on a stage like that,” said Mr El Zaim. “That artwork has been hanging in the palace for several years now, but every time I see a new picture of it with global leaders, I’m filled with pride again. I have God to thank for that.”

French President Emmanuel Macron meets with former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi
French President Emmanuel Macron meets with former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi

Other officials who have been photographed under the artwork include French President Emmanuel Macron and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“All these leaders come from a different background, a different civilisation, and they meet here under the painting portraying Iraq as the cradle of cultures and civilisations," the artist said.

Company%20profile
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While you're here
MATCH INFO

Chelsea 4 (Mount 18',Werner 44', Hudson-Odoi 49', Havertz 85')

Morecambe 0

The%20specs
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MANDOOB
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Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
THE SPECS

Engine: 3.6-litre V6

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 285bhp

Torque: 353Nm

Price: TBA

On sale: Q2, 2020

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

Countries offering golden visas

UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.

Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.

Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.

Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.

Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence. 

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

The Baghdad Clock

Shahad Al Rawi, Oneworld

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
Pakistan Super League

Previous winners

2016 Islamabad United

2017 Peshawar Zalmi

2018 Islamabad United

2019 Quetta Gladiators

 

Most runs Kamran Akmal – 1,286

Most wickets Wahab Riaz –65

 

 

What is Genes in Space?

Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.

It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration. 

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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FA%20Cup%20semi-final%20draw
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clinicy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Prince%20Mohammed%20Bin%20Abdulrahman%2C%20Abdullah%20bin%20Sulaiman%20Alobaid%20and%20Saud%20bin%20Sulaiman%20Alobaid%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Riyadh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2025%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20More%20than%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Middle%20East%20Venture%20Partners%2C%20Gate%20Capital%2C%20Kafou%20Group%20and%20Fadeed%20Investment%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'Gold'

Director:Anthony Hayes

Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes

Rating:3/5

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Austrian Grand Prix race timings

Weekend schedule for Austrian Grand Prix - all timings UAE

Friday

Noon-1.30pm First practice

4-5.30pm Second practice

Saturday

1-2pm Final practice

4pm Qualifying

Sunday

4pm Austrian Grand Prix (71 laps)

Brief scores:

Toss: Rajputs, elected to field first

Sindhis 94-6 (10 ov)

Watson 42; Munaf 3-20

Rajputs 96-0 (4 ov)

Shahzad 74 not out

Updated: May 17, 2025, 4:07 PM`