Archive finds: Elvis loves Arabs (Al Shorouq Magazine, 1970)

March 10, 2013 by Lisa Reinisch in history, UAE, UAE media history

Here is one of the more bizarre clippings I've come across recently with the help of my colleagues. More than forty years ago, Al Shorouq magazine used the King of Rock and Roll for a gibe against American support for Israel and the values 'hidden' in foreign pop culture. It's tongue-in-cheek and can't be taken too seriously, but there is a certain tragic to the thought that this kind of media coverage seems to be making a comeback.

Patriotic animal cruelty?

March 03, 2013 by Lisa Reinisch

The UAE flag, as a signifier of patriotism, is often used in unusual ways. Not just in November and December, around National Day, but throughout the year. At the same time, exotic pets are also extremely popular here. So maybe I shouldn’t have been all that surprised when I came across this smiley-faced orange parrotfish, ‘decorated’ with a national flag, at my local pet shop. But I was.

IDEX Envy 2013

February 24, 2013 by Lisa Reinisch in Abu Dhabi, UAE, events

Another two years gone by, another edition of IDEX I have watched from the outside, like a would-be party crasher: full of grand visions of what it would be like to get in; held back by nerves and the lack of an invite. Ever since reading Robert Fisk’s account of his visit to IDEX 2001, I’ve been harbouring an intense curiosity regarding what goes on at this biennial show of global defense gadgetry.

Archive finds: Zahrat Al Khaleej front pages from 1980

February 12, 2013 by Lisa Reinisch in fashion, UAE, UAE media history, Abu Dhabi

Going through the small but well-kept collection of old magazines at the National Centre of Documentation and Research, I was excited to come across a stack of old Zahrat Al Khaleej ("Gulf Flower") magazines. This was the UAE's first widely distributed women's title. What strikes me as interesting about these covers is that, 33 years ago, ordinary girls from the UAE and other Gulf countries were happy to be photographed without covering their hair. Today, the vast majority of UAE nationals wear traditional dress and one would be hard pressed to find a Khaleeji (Gulf Arab) woman to do a magazine photo shoot without full abaya and shayla.

Saadiyat: closer than you think?

February 08, 2013 by Lisa Reinisch in Abu Dhabi, art, history, architecture, master plans

Most days I drive past this billboard on Saadiyat Island showing Jean Nouvel’s design for the Louvre Abu Dhabi under the slogan “Closer than you think” and “Opening 2015”, and I can’t help feeling a pang of irritation. After all, my being in this city has something to do with this grand cultural vision and somehow I take the delay of its realisation more personal than I probably should.

Thank you for reading

January 30, 2013 by Lisa Reinisch

One lesser known aspect of the UAE's economic development, which I recently covered for Your Middle East, is the emergence of community libraries in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Their unofficial motto: If the people won't come to the books, we'll bring the books to the people.

Welcome

January 30, 2013 by Lisa Reinisch

This is the first of what I intend to be at least weekly posts on stuff I come across at work and generally just by living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It’s an interesting place, this. Much more to it than meets the eye. Certainly more than any grand national narrative, glossy brochure, hard-hitting documentary or personal blog could ever capture.