NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) kicked off its inaugural, in-person edition of Ramadaniyyat with The Arts Center at NYUAD’s special contemporary Arab Cinema series, CinemaNa.

Running until April 17 and open to the public, Ramadaniyyat is a diverse, week-long program of events hosted jointly by NYUAD’s three public-facing institutions: The Arts Center, The Art Gallery, and The Institute, to mark Ramadan. A suhoor will be served nightly on The East Plaza after the events throughout the week. To view the full program and for more information, please visit nyuad.nyu.edu/ramadaniyyat

Upcoming events include:

The Institute

The Steed, The Night and The Desert

April 13, 9:30pm, NYUAD Lecture Hall | Free (prior booking is required)

Head of the Abu Dhabi Center for the Arabic Language His Excellency Ali bin Tamim will discuss his personal experience with al-Mutannabi, considered to be one of the most influential Arab poets, with Sheikh Zayed Professor for Arabic and Islamic Studies at the American University of Beirut and Senior Research Fellow at the Library of Arabic Literature, Bilal Orfali. The talk will include readings of al-Mutannabi’s poetry and the distribution of some publications from the Abu Dhabi Center for the Arabic Language. 

The Arts Center

Boom.Diwan x Nduduzo Makhathini x Jean-Michel Pilc

April 14, 9:30pm, The Red Theater at The Arts Center | AED 150 / Youth price AED 75

In the spirit of Ramadan, enjoy an evening of Khaleeji rhythms and sounds in a musical conversation with global jazz featuring Boom.Diwan (Kuwait/UAE), led by guitarist, composer, and applied ethnomusicologist Ghazi Al-Mulaifi,  with Nduduzo Makhathini (South Africa) and Jean-Michel Pilc (France/USA/Canada). The global collaboration highlights the power of dialog for understanding, peace, and resolution. 

Simon Shaheen

April 15, 9:30pm, The Red Theater at The Arts Center | AED 150 / Youth price AED 75

Internationally acclaimed oud and violin virtuoso Simon Shaheen and his band showcase their soaring technique, melodic ingenuity, and unparalleled grace with classical Arabic sounds.  Shaheen will be joined by Naseem Alatrash – Cello, Layth Sidiq – Violin, Tareq Rantisi – Percussion, Firas Zreik – Qanun, and Ghada  Ghanem – vocals. 

The Art Gallery

Live Performance: Mirroring Medusa

April 16, 9pm, The NYUAD Art Gallery | Free (prior booking is required)

Join us for a special evening of performances by Kiori Kawai and visiting performers Concetta Cariello and Marwan Ghunaim, presented in response to the artworks on display as part of the Gallery’s current exhibition, Parthenogenesis: Ramin Haerizadeh, Rokni Haerizadeh, Hesam Rahmanian.

Parthenogenesis: Ramin Haerizadeh, Rokni Haerizadeh, Hesam Rahmanian
On view until June 12, The NYUAD Art Gallery | Free 
The Art Gallery is offering tours within the exhibition currently on view, Parthenogenesis, and will shift its opening hours during Ramadan from 2-10pm.