From Dubai to Kilimanjaro: A journey in art and altitude

Welcome back to Al-Monitor Dubai.

As Eid al-Adha celebrations approach this weekend in the United Arab Emirates, we're spotlighting Emirati designer Omar Al Gurg’s first solo exhibition at Lawrie Shabibi in Alserkal Avenue, the best spots to watch Eid al-Adha fireworks, and a Sharjah exhibition highlighting Arab female artists who worked in Beirut during the 1960s and 1970s.

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Happy reading,

Rebecca

P.S. Have feedback or tips on Dubai's culture scene? Send them my way at contactus@al-monitor.com.

1. Leading the week: Omar Al Gurg at Lawrie Shabibi

Omar Al Gurg, “Everyman's Mountain_ Heathland – 001,” 2021. Archival print on Cotton Rag, 83.3 x 125 cm. (Courtesy of the artist and Lawrie Shabibi)

Titled “Everyman's Mountain,” Emirati artist and designer Omar Al Gurg’s first solo exhibition presents a series of photographs documenting Mount Kilimanjaro’s captivating ecological diversity during Al Gurg’s six-day journey there in 2021. Kilimanjaro’s complex environment, among the world’s most challenging to mount, has rarely been captured in contemporary photography. Al Gurg was on a mission to offer new, rarely seen images of the vicinity.

Revealed in his poignant, emotionally charged images are the mountain’s layered habitats, from forests covered in mist and regenerating moorlands that were affected by recent fires, to ice caps close to the summit itself. The images show the rich diversity of the surrounding area laden with mystique, beauty and danger.

During the journey, Al Gurg and a group of hikers were supported by a team of porters who demonstrated the community-oriented and human dimension of climbing the mountain, so often viewed as a solitary task. Al Gurg’s photographs capture delicate natural details — like light filtering through foliage or the subtle transformation of clouds — reflecting a longing for beauty during a time of courage and resilience. These moments, which he documents with care, celebrate the natural diversity that surrounded and uplifted him throughout his journey.

Perhaps most striking about the works on display is their portrayal of a mountain as a place where humans can feel both insignificant and powerful. Al Gurg has strived — and succeeded — in capturing this duality through his photographs. The resulting images are not just about seeing — they're about experiencing Mount Kilimanjaro, both emotionally and physically. They reflect a way of witnessing the natural world with humility and grace.

Dates: Through Sept. 12, 2025

Location: Lawrie Shabibi, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz 1

Find more information here.

2. Word on the street: 21grams

An interior view of 21grams in Dubai. (Courtesy of 21grams)

This popular Balkan restaurant serves flavors from Southeastern Europe and is a Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded bistro. The name of the restaurant, 21grams, refers to the 2003 drama exploring chance encounters, forgiveness and grief, conjuring up an intriguing and experimental setting. Here you can indulge in hearty cuisine featuring flavors from the mountains, lush valleys and seaside of the Balkan regions, alongside warm hospitality and stunning views of the Dubai skyline. Be sure to indulge in some savory classics such as the Bosnian klepe dumplings filled with minced beef, garlic yogurt and Balkan dukkah and chilli oil. Don’t miss the wagyu basturma basket brisket, which comes with basmati rice, pine nuts and raisins.

Location: Meyan Mall, Floor 2, Al Thanya Street, Umm Suqeim 2

Find more information here.

3. Dubai diary

Fireworks illuminate the sky of Dubai during the weekend of Eid al-Adha. 

• Fireworks displays

This weekend, the United Arab Emirates is gearing up for a four-day public holiday to celebrate Eid al-Adha June 5-8, with both government and private sector workers enjoying time off. Eid al-Adha is the second of the two major Islamic holidays. In Dubai, residents and visitors can catch fireworks at Riverland at Dubai Parks and Resorts on the evenings of Thursday, June 5, and Friday, June 6, at 9 p.m. In Abu Dhabi, fireworks will light up Yas Bay Waterfront June 6-8 at 9 p.m., offering spectacular views over the water — perfect to enjoy while dining at one of the many nearby restaurants in celebration of the festive occasion.

Dates: Through June 8

Location: Riverland at Dubai Parks and Resorts and Yas Bay Waterfront in Abu Dhabi

Find more information here.

• Nadia Saikali and her contemporaries

The works of pioneering Lebanese abstract artist Nadia Saikali — known for her fusion of astronomy, geometry and philosophy — is presently on exhibition at the Maraya Art Center in Sharjah. Her show celebrates the broader context of abstract art by women practitioners in Beirut during the 1960s and 1970s. Saikali’s work is particularly noteworthy for its dynamic interplay of light, color and forms, and is juxtaposed in this fascinating exhibition with the work of her notable contemporaries, including Saloua Raouda Choucair, Huguette Caland, Etel Adnan and Helen Khal — all from Lebanon — and female artists from other parts of the Arab world working at the same time such as the late Mona Saudi from Jordan, Asma Fayoumi from Syria, Maliheh Afnan from Palestine, Madiha Umar from Iraq and Munira Al-Kazi from Kuwait. In this show, the city of Beirut appears as it did decades ago — as the golden epicenter of artistic creation and inspiration, attracting artists from across the Arab world.

Dates: Through July 12

Location: Maraya Art Center, Sharjah

Find more information here.

• “Tenté par d'autres soleils”

After its debut in Tunis at the B7L9 Art Center of the Kamel Lazaar Foundation, this exhibition travels to Dubai to showcase the work of Boussandel, an artist of Tunisian heritage who was raised in France. Using paint, blown glass, organic materials and metal, Boussandel’s work tells tales of migration, survival and urban transformation. His work feels raw, approachable, and sensitive yet durable. On the rooftop of his childhood home in Bizerte, he immerses his canvases in water — which prompts a dialogue between nature and man-made materials. The works focus on the berbasha — local individuals who collect waste. The title of the exhibition is drawn from French philosopher Claire Marin, who stated, “Like migratory birds, we are always tempted by other suns.”

Dates: Through Sept. 5, 2025

Location: Tabari Artspace, DIFC, Dubai

Find more information here.