A much-loved art studio for young adults with disabilities that shut down last year is set to reopen in early 2022.
The decade-old Mawaheb was affected by the coronavirus pandemic and its closure in October last year disheartened the tight-knit special needs community.
The artistic studio, the name of which that means "talented" in Arabic, will move to a larger space in Dubai’s Al Quoz neighbourhood from its original home in the historic Bastakiya area of the emirate.
Our new location will be a hub for culture, innovation and talent
Wemmy de Maaker,
director of Mawaheb
“It was exactly a year ago that we had to make the most difficult decision to close Mawaheb. It has been a time of reflection ever since and now it's time to reconnect with the students, their families and our partners,” Wemmy de Maaker, director of the non-profit art studio, told The National.
“Personally, I'm very excited for the people of determination and their families and grateful that we are once again able to offer a place where they can develop their skills and reach the best of their potential.
“A place where they can make friends and integrate with others. A place that will facilitate awareness about equality, acceptance and inclusion.”
The new studio, which caters for students aged 18 and above, will open in GC Avenue in Al Quoz and was made possible through support from the family of a Mawaheb student.
The previous space was divided into several rooms around a courtyard, while the latest plan has bigger areas in which students can work.
It will include a 3,000-sq ft cafe, double the size of its predecessor, and a workshop where people with special needs can meet and participate in activities.
A spacious warehouse next door has been set aside for art training sessions supervised by professionals and life skills courses for young adults with disabilities.
“The studio will have a lot of space for the students to work, dance and do yoga,” Ms de Maaker said.
“The cafe will get an industrial chic look, providing a warm and comfortable atmosphere for leisure and to work.”
The studio has nurtured several talented artists over the years, some of whom held solo exhibitions and earned their own workspace in art galleries in Dubai.
News of Mawaheb’s opening has spread fast with 15 students already signed up.
Indian artist Sharan Budhrani was delighted to learn about the reopening.
“It will be the greatest beginning to the year 2022,” said Mr Budhrani, who was this year awarded a long-term golden residency for his cultural contribution to the UAE.
“It’s a great opportunity for all of us. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Mr Budhrani has muscular dystrophy that weakens his muscles and restricts mobility. He uses remote-controlled cars, spoons and sticks to paint on large canvasses while seated in a wheelchair.
Volunteers have held online sessions to keep the community engaged over the past year but the students are looking forward to meeting old friends and learning new skills in the new studio.
“The last year has been very difficult,” Mr Budhrani said. “Seeing people online was good but it will be amazing to have a studio again.”
Ms de Maaker hoped more students would sign up to explore their talent in the studio she described as “a safe, inspiring and accessible place for people of determination”.
Al Quoz in central Dubai has been the focus of redevelopment work since the announcement of the vision for the cultural sector by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
“Our new location will be a centre of this destination and a hub for culture, innovation and talent,” Ms de Maaker said.
“The creative zone aims to attract both regional and international audiences to the area and encourage artists to live, work and exhibit in the area, which is part of efforts to engage the community.
“We want to connect with society and inspire everyone to do their best.”
Renovation will start soon and the space will be ready by the end of the year in time for the opening in early 2022.
For more information contact: wemmy@mawaheb-dubai.com
In the Restaurant: Society in Four Courses
Christoph Ribbat
Translated by Jamie Searle Romanelli
Pushkin Press
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Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
The years Ramadan fell in May
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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
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Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
