Preserving Heritage: Zayed National Museum Research Fund’s Role in Cultural Scholarship

In the early 1960s, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan the Founding Father of the United Arab Emirates, invited a team of Danish archaeologists to excavate the Hili site in Al Ain. These excavations were critical to Al Ain, as a result, eleven sites were listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2011. Having grown up in the area, he was deeply familiar with its terrain, and he naturally sensed its historical importance. These excavations revealed evidence of the existence of agricultural oases in the UAE, dating back more than 3,000 years, in addition to a group of artefacts dating back to the Bronze and Iron Ages. Archaeological research in the country has revealed valuable evidence of the existence of life more than 300 thousand years ago. Archaeological research and excavations will remain a priority in the United Arab Emirates; the efforts are ongoing and will continue well into the future.

FeaturesAnna SeamanSeptember 12, 2025Zayed National Museum, Culture, Sheikh Zayed

In Orbit: Madar 39 and the Rise of Abu Dhabi’s Creative Constellation

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.

Editor's Picks, FeaturesAnna SeamanSeptember 9, 2025Abu Dhabi, Culture, Art

Truth In Memory

Memory, often shaped by nostalgia, trauma, and loss, can distort or idealize the past, while truth, bound by its quest for factuality, may resist the emotional weight of recollection. In the liminal space where personal narratives and collective histories converge and diverge, artists often explore the blurred lines between truth and memory. This piece explores how four artists from the Dubai Collection portray human existence through the lens of social norms, intangible experiences and history within the context of individual and collective memories.

ReviewsAnna SeamanSeptember 4, 2025Dubai Collection, Exhibition, Culture

For The Love of Dance: Dance Reflections Supports Creativity All Around the World

When an all-male cast of 13 virtuoso dancers from Algeria and Morocco took to the stage atThe Arts Center in New York University Abu Dhabi, audiences were thrilled by the stunning display of contemporary dance that combined capoeira, martial arts and urban-style street dance with powerful imagery evocative of orientalist paintings and the stone filigree of Islamic architecture.

Features, ReviewsAnna SeamanMay 1, 2023dance, Yaa Samar, Theatre, Culture, Abu Dhabi