BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//magpie - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:magpie
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://magpie.ae
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for magpie
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Asia/Dubai
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0400
TZOFFSETTO:+0400
TZNAME:+04
DTSTART:20240101T000000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260304T213000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260304T230000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20260217T162309Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260303T173946Z
UID:10013449-1772659800-1772665200@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:POSTPONED The Voice of Hind Rajab: dir Kaouther Ben Hania (2025)
DESCRIPTION:Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania has created a docudrama that reconstructs the horrifying true story of five-year-old Hind Rajab as she is bombarded by the Israeli army in Gaza in 2024. Rajab survived the original assault by the IDF\, which killed six family members and two paramedics\, and she stayed on the phone for hours to the Palestine Red Crescent Society desperately begging for help. Rajab’s heart-wrenching voice is real; the film fictionally reconstructing the drama of the emergency responders in their call centre office. \nThis is a powerful film\, greeted with a 23-minute standing ovation when shown at the Venice Film Festival last autumn. It also begs a few questions about whether the mix of fiction and fact is at all exploitative; but you can make your own minds up about that … Very highly recommended\, \nIt is presented here by the NYUAD Film and New Media Program and screening as part of the CinemaNA series of contemporary Arab cinema.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/the-voice-of-hind-rajab-dir-kaouther-ben-hania-2025/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/hind-rajab.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260303T213000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260303T230000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20260203T160509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260303T173929Z
UID:10013391-1772573400-1772578800@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:POSTPONED Ramadaniyyat: Naïssam Jalal and Hazem Shaheen
DESCRIPTION:Flutist and vocalist Naïssam Jalal and oud master Hazem Shaheen have been friends and collaborators for nearly 20 years\, composing and performing an intimate\, meditative repertoire that uses just their two instruments and brings together the classical Arabic tradition of improvised taqsim and modern jazz. \nBorn in Paris to Syrian parents\, Naïssam Jalal is one of the leading figures on the contemporary jazz scene – the leader of four groups\, a prolific composer\, and with 10 albums to her name (including one with a very cool track featuring Archie Shepp). In 2024\, Jalal was named best French flutist by Jazz Magazine. \nHazem Shaheen is an Egyptian oud player\, singer\, and composer. He studied at the Bait Al Oud and subsequently taught there before moving on to Cairo Opera House. He has albums with his band Eskenderella and as a solo performer. \nJalal and Hazem Shaheen have done many concerts together but only one album (Liqaa\, in 2018: it’s very fine). This concert for Ramadan should provide a magical opportunity to experience them and their very distinctive music. \n 
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/ramadaniyyat-naissam-jalal-and-hazem-shaheen/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Naissam-Jalal-and-Hazem-Shaheen.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260225T213000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260225T230000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20260217T160151Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260217T160151Z
UID:10013447-1772055000-1772060400@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:UAENO: Echoes of Time – Ibn Arabi
DESCRIPTION:The UAE National Orchestra continues its inaugural season with a concert inspired by the words of Ibn Arabi\, the Arab scholar\, Sufi mystic\, poet\, and Muslim philosopher from 12th and 13th century al-Andalus. This is the world premiere of a symphonic poem by Nadim Tarabay\, the composer who was also commissioned for the UAENO’s symphony The Beginning. \nIbn Arabi’s major teachings emphasize the concept of unity of existence (wahdat al-wujud)\, the idea that all beings are interconnected manifestations of the same divine reality\, encouraging a deep understanding of the self and God through love and spiritual discovery; Echoes of Time seeks a musical response to these ideas\, where the music becomes reflection and connection with Arabic and Western instruments plus voices “invite the audience to experience time as emotion\, where silence and melody carry meaning”.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/uaeno-echoes-of-time-ibn-arabi-2/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/UAENO-The-Beginning-6-copy.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260215T140000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260215T153000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20260211T102952Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260211T102952Z
UID:10013433-1771164000-1771169400@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Kavan
DESCRIPTION:The final performance of this interesting collaboration between the Mumbai-based music and street theatre group Yalgaar Sanskrutik Manch and the Nalanda Arts Studio from Bangalore. Kavan is described as an ‘Ambedkarite Opera’ – Ambedkarism being the set of anti-caste ideas associated with Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar (1891-1956)\, an Indian economist\, barrister\, social reformer\, and political thinker and activist. \nThe storyline\, which is carried exclusively in poetry and song (hence the ‘opera’ tag)\, concerns a young man called Bejul and his journey to becoming a Shahir\, a politically-aware performance poet; it’s a path from acceptance of the status quo\, including compliance with the social norms like gender and caste\, to a gradual realisation that many of the constraints in his life are actually man-made and not predetermined. Although the caste system provides the framework\, the piece can be seen as more generally about deep-rooted inequalities in society – “and every society has such inequalities” as the director Abhishek Majumdar told us. \nRead our backgrounder here.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/kavan-3/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Opera
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260214T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260214T213000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20260107T125256Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T125256Z
UID:10013219-1771097400-1771104600@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:UAENO: Russian Classics
DESCRIPTION:A UAE National Orchestra concert featuring three classic Russian works that speak of emotion\, imagination and human resilience. The programme looks nicely balanced: \n Shostakovich Overture on Russian and Kirghiz Folk Themes\nStravinsky Pulcinella Suite\nTchaikovsky Symphony No.5
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/uaeno-russian-classics/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Concert
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260214T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260214T210000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20260211T102827Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260211T102827Z
UID:10013432-1771097400-1771102800@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Kavan
DESCRIPTION:The second performance (of three) for this interesting collaboration between the Mumbai-based music and street theatre group Yalgaar Sanskrutik Manch and the Nalanda Arts Studio from Bangalore. Kavan is described as an ‘Ambedkarite Opera’ – Ambedkarism being the set of anti-caste ideas associated with Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar (1891-1956)\, an Indian economist\, barrister\, social reformer\, and political thinker and activist. \nThe storyline\, which is carried exclusively in poetry and song (hence the ‘opera’ tag)\, concerns a young man called Bejul and his journey to becoming a Shahir\, a politically-aware performance poet; it’s a path from acceptance of the status quo\, including compliance with the social norms like gender and caste\, to a gradual realisation that many of the constraints in his life are actually man-made and not predetermined. Although the caste system provides the framework\, the piece can be seen as more generally about deep-rooted inequalities in society – “and every society has such inequalities” as the director Abhishek Majumdar told us. \nRead our backgrounder here. There is a final performance of Kavan on Sunday 15 February at 2pm.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/kavan-2/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Opera
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260213T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260213T210000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20260211T102213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260211T102716Z
UID:10013431-1771011000-1771016400@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Kavan
DESCRIPTION:This interesting production is the UAE premiere of a groundbreaking collaboration by the Mumbai-based music and street theatre group Yalgaar Sanskrutik Manch\, whose work centres on caste\, inequality and social justice; and the Nalanda Arts Studio from Bangalore\, an organisation working on the research and practice of performing and fine arts with a focus on collaborations between Asian\, African\, and Middle Eastern artists and communities. \nNalanda’s Abhishek Majumdar directs this show\, which is described as an ‘Ambedkarite Opera’ – Ambedkarism being the set of ideas associated with Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar (1891-1956); an Indian economist\, barrister\, social reformer\, and political thinker and activist\, he is particularly associated with criticism of the caste system and a passionate belief in individual freedom. Majumdar is keen to emphasise that it not simply an anti-caste show: “a satirical opera gives us a way to speak about deep-rooted inequalities in society – and every society has such inequalities” he told us. \nThe storyline\, which is carried exclusively in poetry and song (hence the ‘opera’ tag)\, concerns a young man called Bejul whose father is a Lok Shahir\, an Ambedkarite people’s poet. After Bejul’s father gets killed\, his religious mother dissuades him from following in his father’s footsteps. The play is about Bejul becoming a Shahir\, a politically-aware performance poet; it’s a journey from acceptance of the status quo\, including compliance with the social norms like gender and caste\, to a gradual realisation that many of the constraints in his life are actually man-made and not predetermined. \n“Shahiri Jalsa provided our structure\,” Majumdar said. “Jalsas are songs of the Dalits\, Shahiri is the performance form\, both are associated with Ambedkarites. Over time Jalsa has also borrowed from outside music. So we leaned into it\, with all its contemporary and modern influences\, and created the piece out of that.” \nRead the rest of our backgrounder and interview with Abhishek Majumdar here. There are further performances of Kavan on Saturday 14 February at 7.30pm and Sunday 15 February at 2pm.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/kavan/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Opera
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/kavan2.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260211T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260211T213000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20260127T122600Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260127T122600Z
UID:10013352-1770838200-1770845400@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Hijra: dir Shahad Ameen (2025)
DESCRIPTION:This adventure-ish drama\, written as well as directed by Shahad Ameen\, follows Saudi grandmother Sitti travelling from Taif to Mecca to perform Hajj with her two granddaughters\, 12-year-old Janna and 18-year-old Sarah. But before they reach their destination\, Sarah disappears\, forcing Janna and Sitti into a tense search that stretches across Saudi Arabia\, crossing old pilgrimage routes and confronting strangers\, unforgiving landscapes\, long-buried family secrets\, and Sitti’s rich and complicated past … \nTheir harsh journey begins to mirror the spiritual trials of Hajj itself. While Hijra is undoubtedly entertaining\, it goes further – exploring culture\, the ties that binds families together\, and the deep intergenerational gulfs between the women. We come to see those rifts as nuanced rather than a judgement on the old ways; it’s been described as a critique of the notion that older generations of women were not free\, or that elders in general are backward. \nThis thoughtful\, engaging film screens in the CinemaNA contemporary Arab cinema series presented by the NYUAD Film and New Media Program.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/hijra-dir-shahad-ameen-2025/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Hijra.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260207T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260207T213000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20260107T124318Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T124318Z
UID:10013218-1770492600-1770499800@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Vivaldi: A Journey East
DESCRIPTION:This UAE National Orchestra concert looks like a really interesting (and challenging) option – music by the baroque master composer rescored for the instruments\, modes and sounds of the Arab world: “a musical dialogue emerges\, as harpsichord converses with qanun and violin answers the oud\, finding shared language”. We don’t know exactly which Vivaldi works have provided the source material\, or indeed who provided the arrangements\, but it’s bound to be worth the ticket price …
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/vivaldi-a-journey-east/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Concert
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260205T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260205T213000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20260120T180602Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260128T141026Z
UID:10013338-1770319800-1770327000@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Huang Yi: Ink
DESCRIPTION:Huang Yi was last seen in Abu Dhabi in The Arts Center’s inaugural season\, dancing with an industrial robot. This time he takes the ‘dance meets tech’ idea in new directions; in this collaboration with audiovisual pioneer Ryoichi Kurokawa\, the lines from a hundred artworks by renowned calligrapher Tong Yang-Tze are dismantled and reconstructed to explore the various textures that can be found between body\, sound\, visual\, and space. \nHuang digs into his cultural roots to find a wild language of movement\, turning dancers’ bodies into brushes that paint marks on stage. Kurokawa transforms the inkblots into luminous tracks\, echoing and merging with the unique brushstrokes of Tong\, constructing a continuous flow of paintings via holographic projection. On stage\, dancers trace ephemeral gestures that echo the movement of a calligrapher’s brush\, while Kurokawa’s responsive sound and visual environment amplifies each motion\, dissolving the boundaries between the physical and digital worlds. The result is a hypnotic performance that unfolds like a living painting\, at once precise\, fluid\, and emotionally charged. \nBill Bragin\, Executive Artistic Director at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi\, said: “Huang Yi’s duet with the robot KUKA dazzled audiences in our inaugural season a decade ago\, so it feels especially meaningful to welcome him back as we enter our second decade. Ink shows how his work has continued to grow\, using technology in striking and unexpected ways\, while still feeling lyrical and deeply human. We are delighted to welcome him back to Abu Dhabi and to share this extraordinary Middle East premiere of a performance mixing with the ancient art of calligraphy\, and contemporary multimedia art and robotics.” \nInk is an original production of Huang Yi Studio +\, co-commissioned by the National Taichung Theater and National Theater\, Taipei in Taiwan. It is presented in Abu Dhabi with the support of Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/ink/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Dance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ink-1.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260202T183000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260202T200000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20260122T125050Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260122T125050Z
UID:10013342-1770057000-1770062400@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Dance Workshop: Huang Yi - Whispers of the Body: a Workshop on Awareness and Movement Dialogue
DESCRIPTION:The acclaimed Japanese choreographer\, in town for his performance piece Ink in a couple of days’ time\, explores how movement becomes conversation. In this workshop\, participants learn to sense and respond to the subtle messages within their own bodies and those of others. Through guided improvisation and mindful exploration\, participants will discover how awareness can transform into expressive\, organic motion. \nThe workshop is suitable for participants aged 18+\, with experience in dance.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/dance-workshop-huang-yi-whispers-of-the-body-a-workshop-on-awareness-and-movement-dialogue/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Dance,Workshop
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260129T190000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260129T230000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20260120T133047Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260127T173610Z
UID:10013331-1769713200-1769727600@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Tamaas Festival – Yasmine Hamdan | Al-Qasar | Maruja Limón
DESCRIPTION:The Arts Center’s mini-Womad for artists who mix modern/Western ideas with traditional/regional styles returns with three good-looking acts (each of whom will play for about an hour\, which makes the door price a bit of a bargain). \nYasmine Hamdan (above) is Arabic-indie royalty: she’s been music since the late 1990s\, earning international acclaim as a solo singer-songwriter\, producer\, and composer; her apparently effortless merging of elements from a variety of sources from pan-Arabic pop and poetry to clubby electronica via soul and West Coast guitar is seen to good effect on the rather good album she released last September. \nAl-Qasar was started between Los Angeles and Paris in 2016 by US-French producer Thomas Attar and now has a core of Turkish psychedelic rock singer Sibel\, Iraqi-French drummer Adrien Al-Aiedy and French bassist Guillaume Theoden. It’s clever rock ‘n’ roll\, mainly guitar-led with propulsive drumming and more than a touch of North African trance (no obvious drum machines\, though). 2024’s album Uncovered\, their second\, is full of good things and loads of variety\, which bodes well for the live show … \nMaruja Limón is a six-piece band from Barcelona with a fusion of flamenco\, pop\, and Latin. Te como la cara is the band’s latest album\, released a year ago; you’ll recognise flamenco\, salsa and rumba\, but also electronica and pop. It’s fast\, super-rhythmic\, good fun and very danceable. (Incidentally the album title translates literally as ‘I eat your face’ which my Catalan friend tells me is slang for ‘I really\, really like you’.) \nTickets are reportedly selling fast … \nRead our full-length backgrounder on the Tamaas Festival here.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/tamaas-festival-yasmine-hamdan-al-qasar-maruja-limon/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Yasmine-Hamdan.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260123T203000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260123T220000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20260113T150852Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T150852Z
UID:10013273-1769200200-1769205600@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:The Tasting Session Live: Reunion
DESCRIPTION:The Tasty Biscuits bring three years of soul and living-room setups to the stage\, with a soulful\, intimate showcase of original music and a guest roster that provides a who’s-who of indie music in the UAE – Gaya\, Abri\, Tac\, Ananya\, Shilpa Ananth\, Beatbox Ray\, Fabre\, Chinua Hawk\, Edenojie\, Dana Naidu. The Tasting Session Live is a self-produced concert series which has become the home for original music and collaborative performance in the country … Recommended.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/the-tasting-session-live-reunion/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Gig
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/tasty.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260118T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260118T213000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20260113T144527Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T144527Z
UID:10013271-1768764600-1768771800@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Aakash Odedra: Songs of the Bulbul
DESCRIPTION:Aakash Odedra returns to the Arts Center with his latest work\, an hour of beautiful\, engrossing virtuoso dance from a single dancer that unashamedly embodies emotions – mostly joy\, some reflection\, a tinge of sadness and pain – in a piece that ultimately describes a journey towards unity with the divine that is the core of Sufism. You don’t have to believe in the spiritual to feel the story\, though; the dancing\, the choreography\, the music\, the lighting are all that good. \nIn Persian tradition the bulbul is the bird we know as the nightingale\, famous for its melodious song and symbolising beauty\, love\, and even springtime in many cultures. The beauty of the bulbul’s singing is supposed to increase as it nears the end of its life\, mirroring the way physical boundaries can be transcended as we move towards enlightenment and the divine. \nTo extract the most powerful melody from the caged bird\, a bulbul underwent a gruelling process of ‘training’. “It was first placed in a pitch-black room so that it would sing out of a desperate longing for light to touch its feathers once more. This was followed by several harsh stages of deprivation. Finally\, in the last stage\, the bird’s eyes were removed. Blinded and broken\, the bird realised its only remaining option was to leave its mortal body by singing one final\, powerful\, and melancholic song – leaving its earthly cage behind to transcend to a higher realm where it could no longer be confined”. \nSongs of the Bulbul shows us this progress from within a minimal but highly effective set designed by Emanuele Salamanca that includes a bank of (electric) candles and endless rose petals. It’s all set off by Fabiana Piccioli’s exquisite\, atmospheric lighting; watch out for the dramatic blinding sequence … \nThe score is by Rushil Ranjan (from the Orchestral Qawwali Project) that weaves classical Indian rhythms with modern orchestral textures. It’s played (in a recording) by co-commissioners Manchester Camerata.  Principal choreography is by Rani Khanam\, a distinguished kathak dancer with more three decades of professional experience and numerous accolades to her name. \nOriginally staged at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2024\, Songs of the Bulbul has been touring in Britain to rave reviews (we saw it somewhat arbitrarily in Norwich). After Abu Dhabi it moves on to three dates in Australia and one in Florida. \nThe performance will be followed by a Q&A with Aakash Odedra and Dr Alka Bagri of the Bagri Foundation\, co-presenter of Songs of the Bulbul. \nOur feature on Songs of the Bulbul is here.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/aakash-odedra-songs-of-the-bulbul/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Dance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Songs-of-the-Bulbul-1.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260114T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260114T210000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20260113T142705Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T142720Z
UID:10013270-1768419000-1768424400@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Boom.Diwan with Nduduzo Makhathini\, Liany Mateo\, and Elé Howell
DESCRIPTION:An evening of new music from Boom.Diwan’s forthcoming album\, which is being recorded this week. The style is their characteristic merging of Kuwaiti maritime and desert traditions with the improvisational energy of jazz. Joining the ensemble are some distinguished collaborators\, all of whom have played with Boom-Diwan before in concert or on record – South African pianist and Blue Note artist Nduduzo Makhathini\, bassist Liany Mateo\, and drummer Elé Howell.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/boom-diwan-with-nduduzo-makhathini-liany-mateo-and-ele-howell/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Jazz
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1021-copy.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251127T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251127T230000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20251028T132258Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260127T173831Z
UID:10012971-1764271800-1764284400@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Hekayah | The Story
DESCRIPTION:The Arts Center’s 11th annual celebration of the many meanings of ‘home’ – your country\, your city\, your family\, the place where you happen to be now … As always it’s a celebration UAE’s National Day\, Eid al Etihad\, with a curated selection of artists from diverse backgrounds bringing stories of our communities to life through the lens of their histories\, heritages\, and cultures. \nMC Shahad Alsaqqaf hosts this year’s lineup: \nAdel Awad spoken word (India)\nKenan Adnawi music (Syria)\nMaha Alkindi spoken word (UAE)\nMaisoon Mubarak music (Egypt)\nMalavika Suresh spoken word (India)\nNathalia Khawand spoken word (Lebanon)\nNima Elnour spoken word (Sudan/USA)\nNurzy music (Lebanon)\nOmar Awbu music (Palestine/USA)\nRei Co dance (Philippines)\nRosan Reodica spoken word (Philippines)\nSandra Ivette music (Cuba) \nSOLD OUT but there may be returns …
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/hekayah-the-story-3/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Performance
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251114T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251114T220000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20251028T133814Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251028T133814Z
UID:10012972-1763148600-1763157600@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper / Maryna Krut
DESCRIPTION:A really interesting evening of contrasting but complementary music by performers who are all making their UAE debuts. \nBallaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper \nMalian virtuoso Ballaké Sissoko has taken over the mantle of greatest living kora master\, with an ability to unlock every possible nuance on the kora with subtleties rarely heard on any instrument. Derek Gripper is a classical guitarist from South Africa whose own love of the kora set him transcribing and recording some of the greatest works of the instrument. The two met in 2022 in Paris; they have no common verbal language yet managed to perform a complete show together with completely improvised music. Their performances and recordings since then are all achieved without any verbal communication\, just a mutual love of their shared repertoire and the possibilities of the plucked string; the result is not unlike classical chamber music\, with the music flowing freely between improvisation and quotation. \nMaryna Krut \nThe war in Ukraine transformed Maryna Krut from being a performer updating a beautiful tradition of music to being a witness testifying to people around the world about the devastating conflict in her homeland. She uses her powerful voice and her command of the bandura\, a traditional Ukrainian instrument that looks like a cross between a lute and a zither\, to fuse the music of her country with jazz and other influences to bring the story and culture of Ukraine to the world. \n \n 
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/ballake-sissoko-derek-gripper-maryna-krut/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Gig
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/sissoko-gripper.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251106T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251106T210000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20251028T134446Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251028T135216Z
UID:10012973-1762457400-1762462800@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Kenan Adnawi: moonlight road
DESCRIPTION:Kenan Adnawi is a Syrian virtuoso oud player\, composer\, and improviser known for blending traditional Middle Eastern music with classical\, jazz\, and contemporary styles. His solo oud performances are a mesmerizing journey through Arabic maqamat\, unfolding from introspective modal improvisation into vibrant\, experimental rhythms. His technical mastery and emotive phrasing create an immersive experience that bridges traditional oud heritage with global influences.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/kenan-adnawi-moonlight-road/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/adwani.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251104T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251104T220000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20251008T084204Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251008T084235Z
UID:10012880-1762284600-1762293600@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:My Driver and I: dir Ahd Kamel (2024)
DESCRIPTION:The last in NYUAD Arts Center’s fall film season\, a series which explores history\, identity\, and belonging through Arab and international cinema\, while offering audiences the chance to engage directly with filmmakers is inspired by the childhood of Saudi writer-director-producer Ahd Kamel. Set in Jeddah in the 1980s and 90s\, the film traces the unlikely friendship between a rebellious Saudi teenager and her Sudanese driver\, capturing the ways independence and belonging are negotiated in everyday life. He drives her in a car\, but ultimately enables her to take the wheel of her own life’s journey. \nKamel said\, “My Driver and I is my most personal film\, an act of remembrance and gratitude. It’s about friendship that transcends social roles\, about love that hides in everyday moments\, and about the silent bonds that shape us long after the person is gone. In telling this story\, I wanted to honour Mohi\, my driver\, who was never just that – he was family\, he was home.” \nThe screening will be followed by a live conversation with Kamel.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/my-driver-and-i-dir-ahd-kamel-2024/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/My-Driver-and-I.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251028T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251028T220000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20251003T080141Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251008T083352Z
UID:10012850-1761679800-1761688800@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Cineolio's Cinenights
DESCRIPTION:Founded by filmmaker and curator Nawaf Al Janahi in 2020\, Cineolio‘s mission is focused on promoting short films and expanding their audience reach internationally. Its Cinenights screening series presents a diverse selection of short films on the big screen\, celebrating cinematic togetherness and promoting intellectual and cultural exchange. \nThe programme for 28 October explores memory\, resilience\, and the universality of human connection. The films: \nDreamLink dir Kalani Gacon (2023\, Australia: 19 min) \nA troubled teenager seeks solace in DreamLink\, a revolutionary app that merges dreams and reality and promises to connect the user with the person they need the most … \nInto the Night dir Faycal Hammoum (2021\, Algeria: 17 min) \nLouisa moves through the streets of Algiers putting up missing-person posters in search of her daughter\, Souad. Her quest ounderlines the profound divide between the generation of independence and Algerian youth today … \nLife in Pink Like in the Movies dir Christophe Saber (2013\, Switzerland: 14 min) \nNineteen old Super 8 film reels bought in a second-hand store take a young filmmaker into the past of an unknown family. He decides to return the memories to their original owner\, only to find that the image of a perfect family vanishes in reality … \nThe Shore dir Eron Sheean (2023\, Netherlands: 20 min – still above) \nInexplicably abandoned by his parents on a windswept\, empty beach\, a young boy embarks on a surreal journey through time – and a contemplation of his own mortality … \nWintry Spring dir Mohamed Kamel (2015\, Egypt: 16 min) \nA schoolgirl living alone with her father faces a crisis as puberty arrives. Unable to confide in her father\, who struggles to comprehend the changes she’s experiencing\, their relationship becomes strained … \n 
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/cineolios-cinenights-2/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/The-Shore-dir-Eron-Sheean-Netherlands.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251014T190000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251014T220000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20251003T085840Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251008T083205Z
UID:10012853-1760468400-1760479200@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Happy Holidays: dir Scandar Copti (2024)
DESCRIPTION:Studying away from home has given Fifi (Manar Shehab) a new sense of autonomy\, but waking up in a hospital room after minor car accident in Jerusalem and surrounded by her family she will have to decide how much of her new self she’s willing to reveal. \nMeanwhile\, back in Haifa\, Fifi’s brother\, Rami (Toufic Daniel)\, has secrets of his own; his girlfriend’s change of heart has shaken his confidence in the future\, leaving him in a tense battle between ego and paranoia. Not knowing where to turn\, Rami fixates on the little control he has\, desperately searching for a way to steer an outcome that may ultimately be beyond his control. \nThis panoramic family drama has no perfect characters\, yet everyone’s opinion matters. Structured like glimpses into private moments\, the story unfolds through a destructive blend of personal quests\, poor choices\, and the quiet weight of social expectations. Bit by bit\, the fractured foundation of one lie gives way to another until all that’s left is the truth … \nThe film\, which screens in the CinemaNA  series of contemporary Arab cinema\, premiered at last year’s Venice International Film Festival\, where it won the Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay. The film also received the Étoile d’Or at the Marrakech International Film Festival and the Golden Alexander at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival\, among its other awards. \nThe screening is following by a conversation with the director\, Scandar Copti\, about the creative process and the cultural realities that shape his work.  “Sharing Happy Holidays through CinemaNA at The Arts Center at NYUAD feels like bringing the film home\,” says Copti. “For the past eight years\, I’ve been curating this Arab film series\, and teaching film here at NYU Abu Dhabi for more than 12 years\, so this space is part of my own cinematic journey.” \nThe film is in Arabic and Hebrew with English subtitles.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/happy-holidays-dir-scandar-copti-2024/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/happy-holidays.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251010T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251010T220000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20251001T122319Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251001T143247Z
UID:10012808-1760124600-1760133600@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Shakespeare's Othello
DESCRIPTION:The second performance of Lara Foot’s decolonial version of Shakespeare’s original\, set in 1880s Namibia (which at the time was German Southwest Africa) and inviting the audiences to see the legacies of the brutal violence of colonisation. \nIt feels like an unmissable insight into contemporary southern Africa\, the colonial experience generally\, and maybe Shakespeare too. It probably wouldn’t work without a strong production team – costumes and the very clever set design by Gerhard Marx\, music by Kyle Shepherd\, lighting by Patrick Curtis\, and a cast led by Atandwa Kani as Othello with Albert Pretorius (Iago) and Carla Smith (Desdemona). \n 
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/shakespeares-othello-2/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Theatre
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/baxter_othello.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251009T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251009T220000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20251001T122049Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251001T122049Z
UID:10012807-1760038200-1760047200@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Shakespeare's Othello
DESCRIPTION:A much acclaimed version of Shakespeare’s original\, adapted for Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre Centre by director Lara Foot. Other reworkings of Othello have riffed on the notion of the outsider (and a victim of racism) who will always be looked down on by the likes of Brabantio and the Duke; Lara Foot takes it beyond the individual to speak specifically to the violence of genocidal colonialisation\, setting it in 1880s Namibia (which at the time was German Southwest Africa) and inviting the audiences to see the legacies of the brutal violence of colonisation. \nTo make the point she has staged the play in several languages\, isiXhosa and Afrikaans as well as English; and Shakespeare’s Duke has become Otto von Bismarck\, discussing with his officers how to slice up Africa. \nThis feels like an unmissable insight into contemporary southern Africa\, the colonial experience generally\, and maybe Shakespeare too. It probably wouldn’t work without a strong production team – costumes and the very clever set design by Gerhard Marx\, music by Kyle Shepherd\, lighting by Patrick Curtis\, and a cast led by Atandwa Kani as Othello with Albert Pretorius (Iago) and Carla Smith (Desdemona). \nThe performance on 9 October will be followed by a Q&A with Lara Foot and the creative team\, moderated by Shamoon Zamir\, NYUAD Professor of Literature and Art History. \n 
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/shakespeares-othello/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Theatre
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/othello2.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250927T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250927T210000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20250919T162718Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250919T162718Z
UID:10012730-1759001400-1759006800@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Dear Children\, Sincerely...
DESCRIPTION:The second and final performance of this eclectic ensemble production\, a collaboration between Stages Theatre Group\, Sri Lanka and Mashirika\, Rwanda. Dear Children\, Sincerely (DCS) is an ongoing research project\, initiated in Sri Lanka in 2015\, which gathers stories from people born in the 1930s and presents them to younger generations through live performance. More than 70 senior citizens have been interviewed through the DCS project and so far more than two dozen stories exploring the parallel colonial and post-colonial histories of Rwanda and Sri Lanka have been created for performance. \nThe international cast  has been reunited after ten years for this performance of three of the plays: \nSeven Decades Deep: an historical journey that moves between Rwanda and Sri Lanka from 1930 to 1990 with tales of colonisation\, independence\, exile\, insurrections and genocide. \nMy Family Marriage: a humorous merging of traditional wedding customs from the two countries\, exploring how older Rwandan and Sri Lankan generations experienced family and matrimony. \nUpside Down Land: drawing from Rwanda’s and Sri Lanka’s dark histories of genocide\, pogroms and civil war\, this story delves into the complete physical and psychological collapse of a society subjected to prolonged anarchy and terror. \nIt is directed by the noted Sri Lankan playwright\, director and activist Ruwanthie de Chickera\,
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/dear-children-sincerely-2/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Theatre
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/4981.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250926T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250926T210000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20250919T162510Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250924T165457Z
UID:10012729-1758915000-1758920400@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Dear Children\, Sincerely...
DESCRIPTION:Directed by the noted Sri Lankan playwright\, director and activist Ruwanthie de Chickera\, this eclectic ensemble production is a collaboration between Stages Theatre Group\, Sri Lanka and Mashirika\, Rwanda. Dear Children\, Sincerely (DCS) is an ongoing research project\, initiated in Sri Lanka in 2015\, which gathers stories from people born in the 1930s in the two countries and presents them to younger generations through live performance. These are people who had experienced colonisation and journeyed out of it\, having to face civil war and worse; more than 70 senior citizens have been interviewed through the DCS project and so far more than two dozen stories exploring the parallel colonial and post-colonial histories of Rwanda and Sri Lanka have been created for performance. \nThe international cast  has been reunited after ten years for this performance of three of the plays: \nSeven Decades Deep: an historical journey that moves between Rwanda and Sri Lanka from 1930 to 1990 with tales of colonisation\, independence\, exile\, insurrections and genocide. \nMy Family Marriage: a humorous merging of traditional wedding customs from the two countries\, exploring how older Rwandan and Sri Lankan generations experienced family and matrimony. \nUpside Down Land: drawing from Rwanda’s and Sri Lanka’s dark histories of genocide\, pogroms and civil war\, this story delves into the complete physical and psychological collapse of a society subjected to prolonged anarchy and terror. \nThere is a second performance tomorrow (27 Sept) at the same time.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/dear-children-sincerely/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Theatre
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/dcs4.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250920T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250920T210000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20250918T133208Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250919T075807Z
UID:10012708-1758396600-1758402000@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Benji Reid: Find Your Eyes
DESCRIPTION:The second performance of a remarkable show that combines photography\, choreography and theatre to tell an emotional rollercoaster of a story. \nFind Your Eyes draws on Benji Reid’s work both as an award-winning photographer and a pioneer of hip hop theatre to create images in real time in front of the audience. He sits at the centre of the stage\, his ‘studio’\, with three dancers posing for the camera; as he shoots his models\, the images appear on large screens. The performance priogresses with the photoshoot becoming more and more elaborate\, interwoven with episodes of Reid’s own life.  … \nSays Reid: “This performance … serves as a conversation with myself to unearth where I’ve been all these years – a dialogue about struggling with alcohol\, grappling with the immense pain of my mother’s stroke\, and contending with the depths of mental health struggles\, shame\, and guilt. However\, this work is also a celebration of evolution\, a journey of moving forward\, finding breath\, discovering love\, and embracing life’s beautiful imperfections.” \n 
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/benji-reid-find-your-eyes/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Dance,Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MIF-23-Find-Your-Eyes-Benji-Reid-Yvonne-Smink-Slate-Hemedi-c-Oluwatosin-Daniju.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250919T193000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250919T210000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20250918T132907Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250918T132941Z
UID:10012707-1758310200-1758315600@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Benji Reid: Find Your Eyes
DESCRIPTION:With Find Your Eyes\, Benji Reid has made a performance that is unlike any you will have seen. Other artists have approached the creative process itself as performance; but no one else has combined photography\, choreography and theatre to make such striking\, often surreal images to tell an emotional rollercoaster of a story. \nFind Your Eyes draws on Benji Reid’s work both as an award-winning photographer and a pioneer of hip hop theatre to create images in real time in front of the audience. He sits at the centre of the stage\, his ‘studio’\, with three dancers posing for the camera; as he shoots his models\, the iamges appear on large screens. The performance priogresses with the photoshoot becoming more and more elaborate\, interwoven with episodes of Reid’s own life … \n“This performance is a meditation on tragedy and immense joy\,” says Reid. “It serves as a conversation with myself to unearth where I’ve been all these years – a dialogue about struggling with alcohol\, grappling with the immense pain of my mother’s stroke\, and contending with the depths of mental health struggles\, shame\, and guilt. However\, this work is also a celebration of evolution\, a journey of moving forward\, finding breath\, discovering love\, and embracing life’s beautiful imperfections.” \nThis Arab World premiere is presented with the support of Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels; there’s a second show tomorrow (Saturday 20 September).
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/find-your-eye/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Dance,Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Find_Your_Eyes_at_Manchester_International_Festival_2023_Benji_Reid_Slate_Hemedi_c_Oluwatosin_Daniju.79da336.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250829T080000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250829T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20250513T142226Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250513T142226Z
UID:10012047-1756454400-1756486800@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:Faraj Suleiman Live in Concert
DESCRIPTION:For his full UAE debut Suleiman takes to the stage with a full band to performing selection from his albums\, including his breakthrough Better Than Berlin and his most recent release Maryam. His music blends jazz\, rock\, classical\, and Arabic influences into a sound that is unmistakably his own. \nIf you were born in a Palestinian village\, a career as a jazz pianist and composer is no straightforward journey; Maryam is Suleiman at his most introspective and cinematic\, ranging from love and romance to a darker expression of transformation and grief. The melancholy is tangible\, but so is the warmth. His music may be instrumental\, but it tells us stories – his own\, but also those of all Palestinians too.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/faraj-suleiman-live-in-concert/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Jazz
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/faraj_suleiman.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250622T143000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250622T153000
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20250604T095414Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250604T095414Z
UID:10012113-1750602600-1750606200@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:63Kolektib: Metro Diaries
DESCRIPTION:Last chance to see the show commissioned by The Arts Center. Metro Diaries invites audiences to step into a world that reflects the rhythm of daily metro rides through evocative performances that blend spoken word\, dance\, and live soundscapes; the experience unfolds in vignettes that capture fleeting connections\, moments of solitude\, and the universal search for belonging. Passengers board\, interact\, and part ways\, each carrying a story; some encounters are lighthearted\, filled with warmth and curiosity\, while others reveal the deeper struggles and resilience of migrant communities. At its core\, Metro Diaries is a meditation on loss\, hope\, and grounding – three universals that bind us all\, whether on a train or through life.
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/63kolektib-metro-diaries-2/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Theatre
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250621
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250622
DTSTAMP:20260423T092850
CREATED:20250604T095252Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250604T095428Z
UID:10012112-1750464000-1750550399@magpie.ae
SUMMARY:63Kolektib: Metro Diaries
DESCRIPTION:Commissioned by The Arts Center\, Metro Diaries invites audiences to step into a world that reflects the rhythm of daily metro rides through evocative performances that blend spoken word\, dance\, and live soundscapes; the experience unfolds in vignettes that capture fleeting connections\, moments of solitude\, and the universal search for belonging. Passengers board\, interact\, and part ways\, each carrying a story; some encounters are lighthearted\, filled with warmth and curiosity\, while others reveal the deeper struggles and resilience of migrant communities. At its core\, Metro Diaries is a meditation on loss\, hope\, and grounding – three universals that bind us all\, whether on a train or through life. \n63Kolektib is an artist-led community based on a shared passion for storytelling\, movement\, and cross-disciplinary collaboration for performances that amplify underrepresented voices\, particularly those of migrant communities in the UAE; through projects like Metro Diaries\, the collective strives to make theatre accessible\, using public spaces as a canvas for social reflection and dialogue. 63Kolektib’s core members are locally based Filipino theatremakers Trixie Danielle\, Juan Gonzales\, and Jomel Duran Reyes; for Metro Diaries they are joined in performance by professional dancer Rei Co. \nThere are shows today at 2.30pm and 7.30pm\, with a final 2.30pm performance tomorrow (22 June).
URL:https://magpie.ae/event/63kolektib-metro-diaries/
LOCATION:The Arts Center @ NYUAD\, NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island\, Abu Dhabi\, United Arab Emirates
CATEGORIES:Theatre
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://magpie.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/metro-diaries.webp
GEO:24.5238948;54.4345558
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=NYUAD Campus\, Saadiyat Island:geo:54.4345558,24.5238948
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR