This week’s editorial musings
from magpie’s nest
The quote: Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you | Pericles …
What’s going on We’re only five days into a war that Trump has said will last four to five weeks, maybe longer. Equally, the UAE air defences seem to be performing brilliantly (there have been more than 1,000 attacks on the UAE since the US-Israel war against Iran began – that’s more than on all other attacked countries combined) and currently there’s no talk of escalation. So how are things in magpie’s world?
In accordance with government guidelines, several commercial galleries closed for a next few days and a number of shows that were due to open this week have been postponed; in the Agenda we’ve noted those that we heard of (for instance, Sara Naim at The Third Line and Mouteea Murad at Ayyam Gallery).
A few institutions remain closed, like Sharjah Art Foundation and the Jameel (some Jameel events have moved online but IRLs like the weekly Farmers’ Market have been cancelled).
But otherwise we seem to be getting back to normal. Tonight’s UAE National Orchestra performance at Dubai Opera is off, but tickets are available for the weekend. Tashkeel shut for a couple of days but is now open again. Alserkal Avenue’s galleries, shops and eateries have mostly reopened. Comedy gigs seem to be running, though this week’s improv nights at the Courtyard have been postponed.
NYUAD is playing it safe, with students being allowed distance learning and the Art Gallery closed. The Arts Center has postponed this week’s scheduled events, Ramadaniyyat: Naïssam Jalal & Hazem Shaheen and the film The Voice of Hind Rajab.
Elsewhere on Saadiyat it’s business as usual: the Natural History Museum, Zayed National Museum, team:Lab Phenomena and Louvre Abu Dhabi are all selling tickets (there’s some muttering in France about the safety of loaned artworks, including many for the current Picasso show – the Louvre has a special gallery that’s fireproof but not bombproof) …
A word about perception There’s been plenty of overseas social media and press blowback aimed at expats living the luxe life in Dubai, with many relishing the schadenfreude of drone debris falling into their espresso martinis. Meanwhile, you’ve got indignant voices from the UAE pointing out the virtues of safety and security with that unmistakable vibe of opportunity and possibility.
The glamorous lifestyle flaunted by influencers on social media obviously has little to do with real life here as lived by the rest of us. But these are the voices that get heard by people (and media organisations) outside the UAE – the self-absorbed ‘content creators’ and the disgruntled expats (some of whom have been appearing on British TV demanding the UK government rescue them from the hell of the war zone as a matter of priority).
Long story short: blame the influencers (Infludata reckons there are 51,635 of them in Dubai on Instagram alone). And maybe blame Dubai’s authorities a bit, too, because it’s a matter of policy to attract them …
On the other hand … “It’s the right time to buy property, prices will massively go down after the attacks”: Politico reports the measured views of a young real estate consultant a couple of days ago. And we’ve received numerous press releases with lines like “In times of uncertainty, prioritising emotional wellbeing is essential, says Almond Blossoms Fertility And Wellbeing Center”. As Einstein put it, “In the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity” …
And finally … A WIRED report found that the bulk of the misinformation about the conflict with Iran last weekend came from monetised Verified accounts. X has said users trying to pass such content off as real “could” face suspension from the platform …
Job ops 1 Back in the real world, 421 Arts Campus is looking to fill three juicy roles in Abu Dhabi – Exhibitions Coordinator (“an early-career role suited to someone with 1–2 years of relevant experience”); Capability Building Programs Coordinator (“ensures that programs are delivered on time, administratively sound, and aligned with 421’s mission”); and Learning Initiatives Coordinator …
Job ops 2 University of the Arts Sharjah (est Dec 2025, combines University of Sharjah’s College of Fine Arts & Design with Sharjah Performing Arts Academy) is currently recruiting for its music dept – a Tutor in Arabic Music, Tutor in Music Theory and Composition, Programme Leader in Arabic Music. Apply by 29 Mar, start Aug 2026 …
Hammer time The inaugural BAM Auctions auction takes place on 4 April (4pm at Bayt AlMamzar, the Northern Dubai art space which contributes the ‘BAM’) with “a tightly curated test edition” of 30 to 40 lots of mid-range contemporary works from the UAE and the wider region. “This is a modest and intentional first edition, designed to establish a secondary market structure that can mature steadily over time, built at a scale that allows us to remain attentive, responsive, and closely connected to the community it was shaped for”. BAM is looking for consignments: send details here …
Useful app of the week Shottr is a tiny, fast and free Mac screenshot tool with annotations, gradient backgrounds, shadows, scrolling, pixelating to hide or remove objects, and more. Captures any app, any window …
Something for the weekend Royal Family is a daily game where you have to position six chess pieces on a board so that none of the pieces attack each other and there’s only a single piece in each marked zone – so that each zone is occupied without any pieces threatening each other. Look, it’s easier to play than to explain. Try it here …
Things we didn’t know no.94 Pablo Picasso‘s life overlapped those of both Charles Darwin and Eminem – Darwin d.1882, Eminem b.1972, Picasso b.1881 d.1973 …
Earworm of the week Yakkie : Kill the cop inside your head
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