This week’s editorial musings
from magpie’s nest
The quote: Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important | TS Eliot …
War updates Having said only “There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” just a month ago, Trump seems to have found an easier off-ramp and it now looks as though we have two weeks of relative normality. But business news site AGBI reports that property sales in Dubai were down almost 30% in March compared to the previous month – though prices seem to be holding up … for now. Tribe’s just-released Ready Market Q1 2026 Report confirms that – January and February recorded steady growth in residential sales, March saw a 44% drop in transactions. Tribe expects a 10% drop in prices this year “with a market floor forming by Q4 2026” …
Predictably hospitality is taking a bigger hit, with the FT saying hotel occupancy in Dubai for the week ending 14 March was at a mere 16%, down from the usual 90%. “Hotels have responded with deep discounts” commented Semafor, noting that there are many reports of layoffs. The government apparently has plans for a support package for the tourism sector …
Etihad is cutting fares on some long-haul routes by up to 50% to try to get some bums on seats. Seems they’re routes that pass through Abu Dhabi, rather than to or from the UAE. Emirates hasn’t cut any, though it has extended waivers on some flight changes …
And Kutubna Cultural Center has started a project to document our lives here during the war. Any and all contributions are welcome: DM Kutubna here to get started … …
Support Lots of small businesses are reporting tough times, and others are trying to help. Here’s retail giant Majid Al Futtaim offering UAE small businesses free access for one month to pop-up spaces and digital exposure in malls, cinemas and retail platforms. More info here, and if you want to nominate a homegrown brand that deserves exposure tag them here …
More specifically for our world, New Covent Garden Theatre in Dubai is offering free (though limited) rehearsal and studio space for writers, actors, singers, directors, dancers, troupes, and creative companies. “In times that test us, creativity keeps us connected”; first come, first served. Email Amy@NewCoventGardenTheatre.com …
Discounted Saadiyat culture Design Doha Biennial will now take place 5 Nov to 31 Dec … ISEA 2026 (electronic/emerging art) will be rescheduled from its original 10-19 April slot. No news dates yet … Abu Dhabi Festival has postponed from a 12 April start to revised dates in Q4. Looks like most artists have rescheduled, though high-profile opener Jon Batiste doesn’t (yet) appear in the revised programme …
Selective renting Saadiyat Cultural District has launched a Museums Pass – two of LouvreAD, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum for AED 120, all three for AED 170, both valid for 30 days. Normal daily adult rates are AED 70 apiece, so the saving looks particularly good for multiple visits. Buy on-site or online …
Job ops 1 421 is recruiting for three full-time roles – Exhibitions Coordinator, Capability Building Programs Coordinator, Learning Initiatives Coordinator. Lots of coordinating there, which must a good thing. 421 is building momentum and becoming a significant player, so should be a good place to work. Apply here …
Job ops 2 Two Art Consultants is looking for more Art Consultants to join its team (will they have to change the name?) in curating art and accessories packages mostly for hotels and residential locations (they did the terrific 15m long Sheikh Zayed installation at DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai M Square). Suited to Interior Design or Architecture grads with 1-2 years of relevant experience; send CV, cover letter, and portfolio to hello@twoartconsultants.com …
Other ops The submission deadline for Rove’s Emerging Artist Prize has been extended massively, to 30 September (was 31 March) so that it matches up with World Art Dubai. As a result it’s back in our Opportunities listings – details here. Also new on the Opportunities page: Art Here 2026 (deadline 31 May) and Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival 2026 Open Call (5 June) …
Be responsible Sign up for an Earth Day project on 22 April at bkry in Alserkal Avenue to learn the fundamentals of food waste, composting, and environmental responsibility in “an intimate, hands-on session” (hmm) run with The Waste Lab. It’s “designed to reinforce bkry’s position as a sustainability-driven brand”, of course. Free, but limited to 12 people. Info here …
Tell Dubai Culture what you need Fill in a short survey to help Dubai Culture better understand the needs and challenges of the Emirate’s cultural / creative sector. It’s mostly about what you might need to boost your project, and if it results in more grants and more discounted starter spaces it will have been worth it. Respond by 12 April …
UAE in Venice The National Pavilion of the UAE has detailed its forthcoming exhibition Washwasha at the Venice Biennale (opens 9 May). Curated by Bana Kattan with Tala Nassar, Washwasha (‘whispering’) is “a starting point for exploring themes of movement, technology, oral histories, and the relationship between language, body, and identity”; the artists involved are Mays Albaik, Jawad Al Malhi, Farah Al Qasimi, Alaa Edris, Lamya Gargash, and Taus Makhacheva …
Theatre of war? It might not have escaped your notice that we’re about to witness two competing short play festivals. Short+Sweet Dubai and X Fest DXB both start on 18 April and are both vying for the same participants (and the same audiences) with more or less the same format and definitely the same dates, times and prices. And a recent social media campaign hints at dirty tricks – so here’s our take on it all …
Sharjah Art films Sharjah Art Foundation has named the winners of the SFP8 Short Film Production Grant – CounterArchive Collective for We Return in Pieces, Rajan Kathet for Oxygen and Nadeem Alkarimi for Mila in The Mountains. The grant supports the completion of “short films that push the boundaries of contemporary filmmaking” …
More music Dunkin’ UAE wants more original music from homegrown UAE musicians
on the playlists at its locations. If you want to be heard, fill out
this form …
Numoo last chance NYUAD Arts Center says it received more applications for its Numoo professional development programme for performing artists in the first 24 hours than for any of its previous editions, but there’s still time to apply – deadline is 12 April. Here’s a short video about the 2024 cohort; click here to apply for 2026 …
Great picks Time’s World’s Greatest Places 2026 list (recommendations from its correspondents) includes just six in the Middle East, four of them in the UAE – Zayed National Museum and Surf Abu Dhabi plus two hotels …
Sign up 1 Theatre of Digital Arts in Madinat Jumeriah is updating its database of UAE-based artists and performers – categories are music, dance, visual art, performance. Multimedia, “other”. If you’re interested in being considered for upcoming shows, send your CV, pics and showreel / portfolio to producers@toda.ae with Subject as “TODA – [Your Name] – [Category]”. You can also pitch a ready-to-go project to the same email with “Subject=CONCEPT” and a short description …
Sign up 2 Might be a bit late, but Vinyl Souk is looking for just five independent brands, creators, and small businesses to pitch for a spot at its upcoming marketplace (12 April, 25hours Hotel One Central). No participation fees …
Opening gambit OpenAI‘s newly published policy paper Industrial Policy for the Intelligence Age suggests how governments should prepare for an AI world. It’s socially liberal, eg proposing public wealth funds to distribute AI-driven economic gains directly: higher taxes on capital gains and corporate AI profits: a four-day workweek with no pay cuts (because AI-driven productivity): universal access to AI (because it’s an essential resource like electricity): stronger safeguards, including oversight systems, global cooperation, and tools to prevent misuse. All good stuff, all deeply unrealistic given the power of AI’s shareholders and the tech bros. OpenAI used to be a nonprofit arguing for AI’s benefits for all of humanity; now it’s strictly for-profit. And it costs so little to come up with this kind of advice for others …
Useful app of the week BoardBash is a visual workspace designed explicitly for creatives – “as artists, we’ve always felt that there weren’t enough tools that were made for visual thinkers …” Place images anywhere, rearrange them, group them, zoom in and out … Free, and useful. Try it here …
Something for the weekend Eraser Phaser is an arcade game where you’re an eraser and your enemies are the pencils and pens making a mess of your homework (or dissertation, depending on your educational level). Tricky and fun.. Try it here …
Things we didn’t know no.94 The equivalent of 1,500 Boeing 747 flights will be required to deliver all of the AI servers that Microsoft has ordered for the Gulf (according to a board member of US freight company Atlas Air, owner of the world’s biggest fleet of wide-body aircraft cargo planes) …
Earworm of the week Kloyd : New Love
Be the first to comment