Writer, Editor, Curator, Consultant.
Specialist in fine and conceptual art.
ditigal culturalist.
Multimedia creative direction.
Photo by Ushma Dhakan
Photo by Ushma Dhakan
Faisal Al Hassan is the director of 421 Arts Campus in Abu Dhabi’s Mina Zayed district. Over the past decade, he has guided the evolution of a repurposed industrial space into a platform that nurtures emerging artists and serves as a connection point for the creative community. As 421 marks its 10th anniversary, Al Hassan reflects on continuity, capability building, and being the catalyst for change.
Sculptor, ceramicist, painter, and spiritualist, Rachid Koraïchi has had a five-decade, internationally recognised career. Algerian by birth, raised in Tunisia, and now based between Tunisia and Paris, his work has appeared in major collections and biennials around the world. Yet this season marks a significant first: a major solo exhibition at Sharjah Art Foundation.
“The real challenge in our High Jewellery business lies in the technical transcription of the original aesthetic intention,” says Alexa Abitbol, Director of Cartier’s High Jewellery Workshops. “Everything hinges on the precision and mastery of our artisans, who give life to exceptional pieces that are charged with emotion.”
Abitbol’s words provide a fitting entry point into En Équilibre, Cartier’s latest High Jewellery collection, which was unveiled in Keturah Park in Dubai’s Meydan district in February 2026. The exhibition showcased a series of creations exploring one of the Maison’s most enduring creative principles: balance.
In 2026, Art Dubai turns twenty. The anniversary edition, presented under the theme ‘Future, Past, Present’, is a milestone fair that both reflects on the past and looks forward to the rapidly evolving future. It arrives at a pivotal moment for the Gulf’s art landscape, as major international fairs enter the region and institutions across the Middle East consolidate their presence. What was once described as an emerging scene is now firmly embedded within the global art circuit.
“I’m a superstitious woman, so I don’t like to even say the words ‘writer’s block’,” she laughs. “Instead, I call it a creative dry spell that went on for too long. I had years in which I could not write fiction, and I was very unhappy.”
Sculptor, ceramicist, painter, and spiritualist, Rachid Koraïchi has had a five-decade, internationally recognised career. Algerian by birth, raised in Tunisia, and now based between Tunisia and Paris, his work has appeared in major collections and biennials around the world. Yet this season marks a significant first: a major solo exhibition at Sharjah Art Foundation.
The practices of Fateh Moudarres and Safwan Dahoul are almost half a century apart. Whilst the artists share obvious connections to the Syrian cultural and social landscape, their works resonate with universal themes of existentialism, trauma, and national identity.
Sharjah has long straddled the divide between ancient and contemporary. The emirate has led the charge in embracing its deep-rooted history while at the same time hosting a plethora of heavyweight cultural events in art, literature, music, and more. Tanweer Festival, which makes its much-anticipated debut this November, continues this rich tradition. The festival is a showcase of world music, art, and culinary journeys aimed at fostering cultural understanding and global harmony.
“I’m a superstitious woman, so I don’t like to even say the words ‘writer’s block’,” she laughs. “Instead, I call it a creative dry spell that went on for too long. I had years in which I could not write fiction, and I was very unhappy.”
Sharjah: The Capital of Culture published by Assouline in collaboration with Shurooq. Author: Anna Seaman.
Found in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s Mina Zayed district, Madar_39 [M_39] has established itself as a key part of the MiZa neighbourhood and a growing hub for cultural and creative activity. The space, described as a “thriving ecosystem of creative and cultural entrepreneurs”, offers a supporting and structured environment for connection and enterprise with a dedication to elevating the growth of the creative sector.
A Dubai exhibition celebrates one of the most influential figures in modern and contemporary art.
With undulations that resemble topographic features more than facial contours, paintings by Marwan Kassab-Bachi—commonly known as Marwan—were described by his friend, the Syrian poet Adonis, as “face landscapes” because of their ability to capture intense psychological states and inner emotions.