Culture Bites

Who are the pilgrims riding from Spain to Makkah on horseback, reviving an Andalusian tradition?

In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews trace the journey of pilgrims who rode all the way from Spain to Makkah on horseback.
The riders crossed 6,500km over seven months to arrive at the holy site in time for Hajj. Inspired by a promise that one of them made to himself 36 years earlier, the journey recreates the Andalusian tradition performed by Muslims 500 years ago. Enas and Farah reflect on the pilgrims’ role in representing their faith and community to the world.
The hosts also discuss the South Asian and Arabic influences in western pop music and hip-hop. The latest example is Sapphire, a new song by Ed Sheeran in which he sings a line in Punjabi. But he is certainly not the first.
Our hosts recall some of the big hits from artists such as Jay-Z, Britney Spears and Aaliyah that have sampled tracks from the region, and they pose the question, where do we draw the line between collaboration and appropriation?
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The Urban Treasures that define Abu Dhabi

In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews celebrate Abu Dhabi’s urban culture through some of its beloved local businesses.
A number of long-time establishments in the emirate have been honoured as Urban Treasures by Abu Dhabi Culture for their contribution to the commercial and cultural fabric of the capital over the past few decades. As the city grows and evolves, these pastry shops, fitness centres and even clinics thrive as historic landmarks reminiscent of a bygone era.
Enas and Farah speak to one of the honorees, Santa D Souza, owner of Orchid Tailoring & Embroidery Shop, about what this recognition means to him.
To mark the start of Eid Al Adha, the hosts take a closer look at the different customs that observers across the region have adopted, from the universal rituals of sacrifice to more individual traditions that families have created in their own homes and communities.
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From Gaza to Cannes: Arab films in the spotlight

This week on Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss some of the most promising Arab entries at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, which is running until May 24.
They tease some of the titles they’re most eager to watch, including Once Upon a Time in Gaza, a revenge thriller directed by Gaza-born twins Tarzan and Arab Nasser. Another film that’s making waves at the event this year is Swedish-Egyptian filmmaker Tarik Saleh’s Eagles of the Republic, which is competing for the Palme d’Or award. The hosts highlight the valuable role film festivals play to introduce audiences to new cultures.
Last week, Disneyland Abu Dhabi was announced. With the hugely-popular theme park coming to Yas Island, Enas and Farah give the scoop of what to expect when the park eventually opens. They chat about which Disney characters and imagery from the region could inspire the attractions at Disneyland Abu Dhabi. They also discuss the economic boost it will bring to the emirate and the wider region, such as job creation and infrastructure development.

What is a foreign film production anyway?

This week on Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss Palestinian poet and writer Mosab Abu Toha, who won a Pulitzer Prize this week. He was recognised for his essays on life in war-torn Gaza, which reflect the hardships faced by Palestinians under Israeli siege.
The hosts also review the most notable looks from this week’s Met Gala, where celebrities dressed to the theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.
It has been an eventful week, starting off with an announcement by US President Donald Trump that he would authorise a 100 per cent tariff on movies produced outside America. Enas and Farah discuss how a move like this could impact big Hollywood productions coming to the region, where attractive cashback rebates have drawn in major projects in recent years.
On the entertainment front, the UAE’s music and comedy season promises an action packed summer. The hosts share some of the events they are most excited to see, including musical favourite Mamma Mia! and the return of star comedian Dave Chappelle. 

How Abu Dhabi is attracting Hollywood

In this episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews share some of their picks from The National’s list of the 50 most important Arabic novels of the 21st century.
The compilation reflects the diversity of the region’s modern literary scene and the influential authors whose works have impacted audiences near and far. Enas talks about the impression Alaa Al Aswany's The Yacoubian Building left on her and draws attention to the message behind Frankenstein in Baghdad, set in post-US invasion Iraq.
Farah highlights the award-winning novel A Mask, the Colour of the Sky by imprisoned Palestinian author Basim Khandaqji. She also discusses Maha Gargash’s book That Other Me, about a prominent Emirati family consumed by secrets and betrayals.
This week the hosts also take a close look at how Abu Dhabi is incentivising big Hollywood productions to film in the emirate. A cashback rebate scheme launched more than a decade ago became even more attractive this year when Abu Dhabi Film Commission increased its subsidy on film and television production. The most recent production to benefit is Now You See Me: Now You Don’t which wrapped its shoot in April. Enas and Farah talk about the benefits the scheme brings to the economy, tourism and local talent.
The co-hosts also discuss new documentary Louis Theroux: The Settlers, which has been much discussed online. In the BBC show, the British documentarian returns to the occupied West Bank – where he filmed a documentary in 2011 – speaking to Palestinians, Israeli settlers and peace advocates.

Episode 73: How political should a music festival be?

In this episode of Culture Bites, our hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews explore the unlikely connection between Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta and Sharjah, which he chronicled in his writing.
Sharjah hosted a rich literary programme during its participation as guest of honour at the 30th Rabat International Book Fair, highlighting the historical connections between Morocco and the UAE. The famous 14th-century traveller’s journeys to the region took the spotlight at the pavilion. Enas and Farah discuss the poetic and relatable language he used to describe towns he visited in Sharjah and the growing role of the emirate as a global cultural capital.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian cause has taken centre stage at this year’s Coachella music festival. The hosts discuss the acts that shared a message of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, including US band Green Day and Irish rappers Kneecap. They also talk about the privilege certain artists have over others and who can afford to make bold political statements.

Episode 72: Can art really cut through the turmoil?

In a special episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews host the show from Art Dubai, the city's annual art fair that is taking place this week.
They share some of their recommendations for what not to miss at the event this year – including regional, international and digital art.
The hosts speak to Mirjam Varadinis, the curator of the Bawwaba section at Art Dubai, about her vision for the exhibit to imagine new forms of coexistence amid an era of turmoil. Between political upheaval and the impact of climate change, artists from all around the world bring their artistic commentary to the section. Mirjam talks about their use of different materials and textures in their works and how they reflect the ability of cultures to transcend borders.
Renowned Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem tells the hosts about the inspiration behind his installation, a new immersive work titled Directions (Merging). The piece features GPS co-ordinates from around the world, against a backdrop of digital waves in motion, with Dubai at the centre point of convergence. He speaks about his relationship to water and how its features in his work as a metaphor for fluidity and challenging fixed borders.

Episode 71: Taking the art out of artificial: Has AI gone too far?

This week on Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss the ethical consideration of using artificial intelligence to create art.
Their conversation is inspired by the recent viral trend of promoting AI generators like ChatGPT to convert personal photos into Studio Ghibli-style images. The founder of the famous Japanese animation house, Hayao Miyazaki, is staunchly critical of integrating AI into artistic designs. This led to much debate over where to draw the line when it comes to intellectual property and whether it may constitute copyright violations.
In keeping with the theme of digital innovation and moral ambiguity, Enas and Farah preview the new season of Black Mirror. After 14 years since it first launched, the show is back again for a seventh season, with a star-studded cast that includes Peter Capaldi, Chris O'Dowd and Rashida Jones.
The hosts reflect on some of the most critically acclaimed episodes from seasons past and tease some of the upcoming ones. They discuss the cautionary tales from the show and how dangerously close some of them are to becoming a reality.

Episode 70: Why Disney’s remake of Snow White became a poisoned apple

This week on Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews dig into the controversies surrounding Disney's live-action Snow White, an adaptation of the 1937 animated classic.
The film stars Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. As far back as 2021, when the casting was announced, critics accused Disney of being overly politically correct for hiring a Latina actress to play Snow White.
Enas and Farah also talk about the backlash against both actresses for their political views. Gadot, who served in the Israeli army, has been vocal about her support for her country. Zegler has publicly voiced her support for Palestinians, posting “free Palestine” on her social media.
The hosts also discuss controversy around the film’s CGI portrayal of the seven dwarfs. They look at the impact all this has had on the film’s ratings and ask whether movie adaptations of classics can appeal to successive generations.
With Eid on the horizon, Enas and Farah talk about eidiyah, the custom of giving money during the holiday, and fond childhood memories of dressing up for the occasion. They highlight Gulf artists who are bringing Eid traditions to the world through their work, including Abdulla Lutfi who is teaming up with Amazon to design Eid gift cards.

Episode 69: Why it is time to discuss the uncomfortable truth about online culture

On this week’s episode of Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss the Palestinian documentaries that are defying the odds amid a climate of political tension.
Oscar-winning film No Other Land has secured a Dubai-based distributor in the Mena region after failing to find a major distributor in the US. The documentary shows the struggles faced by its Palestinian co-creator as he tried to protect his West Bank village from Israeli settlers.
The hosts talk about the hurdles it has crossed to find its audience despite threats of censorship.
Enas and Farah also shine the spotlight on another Palestinian documentary that has gone viral recently. Watermelon Pictures shared a short clip from their film The Encampments featuring Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, who has been detained in the US since March 9 and faces deportation.
Meanwhile, Netflix’s hit show Adolescence has received high praise for its technical creativity and powerful subject matter. The series tells the story of a 13-year-old boy who has been accused of murdering a female classmate. The hosts unpack the show’s uncomfortable message about an online subculture that promotes toxic masculinity.