Culture Bites

Episode 108: So you want to be a serious art collector? Abu Dhabi is calling

In this week’s episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews talk about a new initiative in Abu Dhabi to attract art collectors.
The scheme announced by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi will waive customs duties for artworks brought in for at least three years. Designed to be more than a financial incentive, the programme prioritises cultural investment in the emirate, building on its reputation as a hub for the arts. Farah and Enas point to similar schemes that have been successful and share tips for aspiring art collectors.
In the entertainment world, awards season is in full swing, with the 68th Grammy Awards earlier this week. Political gestures and speeches stole the spotlight, with artists wearing “ICE out” badges in protest at recent immigration crackdowns in the US.
This year’s wins reflected an evolving music industry. Farah and Enas discuss Bad Bunny winning album of the year, and give their take on the wins, snubs and captivating moments of the ceremony.

Episode 107: Why the food system is broken and why seasons matter | Asma Khan

This week on Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews sit down with chef and author Asma Khan during the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in Dubai.
Born and raised in India, Asma later moved to the UK where she eventually opened her highly acclaimed restaurant, Darjeeling Express. She became the first British chef to be featured on the Netflix documentary series, Chef’s Table. She tells the hosts she insisted her all-female team be featured on the show, as part of her mission to celebrate women, who typically do most of the cooking across cultures but seldom receive enough credit or pay.
Asma also discusses the writing journey and concept of her latest cookbook, Monsoon, which includes recipes that complement the six seasons of her homeland. She explains that growing up in India, she used to know what season it was based on the produce available in the market.
But times have changed significantly and she speaks to Enas and Farah about the impact that year-round ingredients have had on global food systems and vulnerable farmers. Her book, she says, is meant to encourage people to cook with fresh ingredients available to them and share the special gift of home-cooked meals with their loved ones.
The hosts later explore the literary festival and pick up some of the books they’re most looking forward to reading this year.

Episode 106: Celebrating Emirati culture at Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi

In this episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews explore Abu Dhabi’s heritage through Al Hosn Festival, which runs until February 1.
They are joined by Farah Al Bakoush, acting director of Intangible Cultural Heritage at Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism, to discuss the highlights of this year’s event.
She provides a sneak peek of the interactive activations not to be missed, including a heritage escape room. She also tells the podcast hosts about the crafts demonstrations, music and live cooking stations that are designed to celebrate Emirati identity and culture.
The festival takes place at Qasr Al Hosn, the oldest stone structure in Abu Dhabi. Enas and Farah speak to Asma Al Maskari, senior education specialist at Qasr Al Hosn, who tells them about the importance of the site.
The structure has transformed over time. It was first built in the 18th century as a watchtower protecting coastal trade routes. Later, a fort and a palace were constructed and, following renovation, it became a museum in 2018. Asma talks about the architecture, the rich history of Qasr Al Hosn and its role connecting the city’s past to its present.

Episode 105: Sitting down with viral artist Werner Bronkhorst

This week on Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews host contemporary artist Werner Bronkhorst ahead of his first exhibition in Dubai.
The 24-year-old South Africa-born Australian painter talks about the global premiere of his new collection, Crack, which will be on display at Concrete in Alserkal Avenue from January 16 to 18. Even at his young age, Bronkorst’s work has become massively popular, appealing to people all over the world.
The Sydney-based artist is known for his technique of drawing realistic paintings of miniature people and objects on abstract backgrounds, which are created using thick layers of paint. In his new collection, Bronkhorst explores landscapes under pressure, featuring deserts and earthy palettes that may feel familiar to Gulf dwellers.
He tells Enas and Farah about his largest piece yet, to be showcased at the upcoming exhibition, and shares his reflections on cultural appreciation in the UAE, as well as what’s inspiring him here to make more art.

Episode 104: The band reviving Kuwaiti pearl-diving music through jazz

In this episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei is joined by UAE-based musician Ghazi Al Mulaifi to talk about the traditions of Kuwaiti pearl-diving music that inspired his band, Boom.Diwan.
Ghazi tells Enas about his own family history of pearl diving and the intrigue it sparked in him. The rich cultural practice was also an arduous one, marked by long perilous journeys and hardship. Music was an important component to boost morale and help the divers prepare for their working day. Boom.Diwan revives these rhythms in a Khaleeji jazz-fusion style that Ghazi describes as experimental.
He talks about how elders react to his music and the importance of preserving the authenticity of pearl-diving heritage, while also performing for new and diverse audiences. Boom.Diwan’s cross-cultural collaborations have also uncovered shared histories and sounds that span continents. Their coming performance at The Red Theatre at NYU Abu Dhabi on January 14 will feature a number of international guests including South African pianist Nduduzo Makhathini. 

Episode 103: The year in culture - top reads, movies and moments of 2025

In this season finale of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews reflect on the culture-defining moments that had the biggest impact on them in 2025.
The hosts share their favourite movies, TV series and books from the past year, with a look back at both fiction and non-fiction titles. They also highlight their most memorable art institution visits. Enas describes what it was like stepping into the Grand Egyptian Museum ahead of its history-making opening this year. Farah talks about her journey at Nomad Abu Dhabi, which transformed the decommissioned Terminal 1 of Zayed International Airport into a sprawling art and design venue.
No review is complete without a nod to the year’s most captivating pop culture moments. Enas offers lessons learnt from a major scandal in the music industry, while Farah conducts a postmortem of a space mission that created more questions than answers.

Episode 102: Preserving Arab heritage - From Zayed National Museum to Unesco's list

In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews explore how cultural heritage is preserved, celebrated and carried forward, from one of the UAE’s newly opened museums to the living traditions recognised by Unesco.
The episode opens at the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi, where Farah records from inside the new landmark on Saadiyat Island.
In that segment, Moaza Matar, director of the curatorial and collections management department at the museum, explains how the galleries were developed to reflect the nation’s journey, from ancient history and maritime life to the formation of the modern state. She discusses how the themes were chosen and how the legacy of the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, shapes the narrative throughout the museum.
Moaza also talks about the visitor experience, beginning with the outdoor Al Masar Garden and moving through the galleries, sharing what she hopes visitors will feel and understand as they leave.
Back in the studio, the episode turns to recent developments in regional culture, including the addition of Arab dishes and traditions such as koshary, bisht and zaffa to Unesco’s intangible cultural heritage list. Enas and Farah both share their thoughts on what this list means for the wider Arab culture.
The hosts also give their recommendations for what to do and see this week, including Manar Abu Dhabi and A Merry Little Ex-Mas a Christmas romcom on Netflix.

Episode 101: Why are we so obsessed with (our own) Spotify Wrapped?

In this episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews reveal their Spotify Wrapped summaries, each with their own listening age plot twist.
The end-of-year stats delivered by Spotify and other similar audio streaming platforms have become popular among users over the years. Enas and Farah dig through their listening habits to understand why people love to learn about their own personalities. While the over-mining of user data is generally controversial, Spotify Wrapped has managed to turn information into a fun experience that people love to share publicly.
This time of year also marks the run up to awards season. The 83rd Golden Globe Award nominations have been announced before the ceremony, set to take place on January 11.
The hosts share their thoughts on some of the top contenders, including Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which is competing for nine awards. They also highlight some of the best international features in the running such as The Voice of Hind Rajab and Iranian film It Was Just an Accident.

Episode 100: A day out at the newly-opened Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi

This week, Culture Bites celebrates its 100th episode from the newly-opened Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi.
Hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews tour the sprawling space in Saadiyat Cultural District and explore the 13.8-billion-year story of the universe. They speak to the museum’s director Peter Kjaergaard about the emotional connection to the natural world that he wants visitors to experience. He tells them about the hidden gems worth discovering beyond some of the main highlights, including surprise easter eggs placed across the museum. The key message, he says, is for people to recognise the power to create positive change for the planet.
Enas and Farah also catch up with assistant curator Noora Albalooshi. She explains the process of curating science and talks about procuring artefacts including fossils that were excavated in Abu Dhabi. A dedicated gallery at the museum recreates the Arabian landscape of the UAE millions of years ago and Noora says it often shocks visitors to see the savannahs and prehistoric creatures that roamed the region.
The hosts give recommendations of their own of what not to miss at the museum, including battling T-rexes and a piece of the moon you can touch. 

Episode 99: How stories of migration come to life at Abu Dhabi Art

This week on Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews visit the Abu Dhabi Art fair and speak to some of the artists whose work caught their eye.
The Beyond Emerging Artists programme features up-and-coming UAE-based talents, and this year it is curated by renowned Syrian artist Issam Kourbaj. He speaks to Enas about working with the participants to bring their installations to life, and he gives a preview of his own showcase within the fair’s Gateway exhibition, a commentary on the burdens and inevitability of migration.
On a related theme, Farah explores the interactive piece by Jou Pabalate and Alexis Convento, part of the Filipino collective Sa Tahanan Co. Cooking from a Migrant Memory, Iteration II is a multisensory tablescape inspired by the recipe book and journal of Jou’s mother, who migrated to Saudi Arabia in the 1970s. It is not just a visual experience; visitors are invited to eat the art.
The hosts also give their recommendations for what to do and see this week, including The Arts Edit Live, an online conversation on November 27 moderated by The National’s William Mullally, exploring the UAE’s rapid cultural evolution. Farah is taking part in the discussion alongside Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation, and Laila Binbrek, director of the National Pavilion UAE.