Abdulqader Al Rais, Al Nayed

Opera Gallery Dubai presents 'Al Nayed', a major retrospective dedicated to Abdulqader Al Rais, one of the founding figures of contemporary art in the United Arab Emirates. On view from 26 March to 8 April 2026, the exhibition offers an in-depth overview of an artistic practice that has played a decisive role in shaping the country’s modern visual and cultural identity.

A Central Figure in Emirati Art

Abdulqader Al Rais occupies a central position in the history of modern and contemporary art in the UAE. His career spans more than five decades, tracing the transition from the Trucial States to the emergence of the UAE as a global cultural centre. Throughout this period, his work has maintained a sustained engagement with the architectural heritage, natural landscapes, and evolving urban environment of the Emirates, contributing to the development of a distinctly Emirati visual language.

Heritage as Contemporary Practice

Al Rais’s work is grounded in a deep dialogue with cultural heritage while remaining firmly situated within modern artistic practice. Drawing from Islamic aesthetics, Arabic calligraphy, and the structural rhythms of local architecture and landscape, his paintings integrate traditional references within abstract and modern compositional frameworks. Rather than treating heritage and modernity as oppositional, his practice demonstrates their continuity and mutual reinforcement.

Continuity Amid Transformation

Emerging at a moment of rapid social and cultural change, Al Rais’s artistic practice established continuity between inherited visual forms and contemporary expression. His work articulated identity through adaptation rather than rupture, positioning Emirati art within wider conversations around Arab modernism. Through abstraction, geometry, and spiritual reference, he affirmed the possibility of a modern visual language rooted in place and cultural memory.

'Al Nayed': Mapping an Artistic Evolution

The exhibition title, 'Al Nayed', evokes movement, growth, and elevation, and serves as a framework for tracing the evolution of Al Rais’s artistic language. The exhibition follows his progression from early observational and impressionistic works to the geometric and spiritual abstraction that characterises his mature practice. Each body of work reflects a distinct phase in his ongoing exploration of form, space, and meaning.

Major Series Presented

'Al Nayed' brings together significant works from Abdulqader Al Rais’s most important series. The Alghaf Series draws inspiration from the Ghaf tree, a national symbol of resilience and continuity. The Calligraphy Series (Hurufiyya) explores the Arabic letter as a visual and spiritual form, liberated from linguistic function. The Impressionism Series revisits early depictions of Emirati architecture and landscapes, rendered with soft, atmospheric brushwork. The Alhaa Series, composed of watercolour works on paper, demonstrates a refined engagement with translucency and material sensitivity. The Abstract Series integrates geometric elements—most notably the artist’s signature square motifs—within landscape-based compositions.

The exhibition includes rare works from the artist’s private collection, offering insight into lesser-seen aspects of his practice. It also presents a selection of newly produced works, created specifically for this exhibition, underscoring Al Rais’s continued creative vitality and sustained engagement with abstraction.

Legacy and Enduring Significance

'Al Nayed' presents Abdulqader Al Rais as an artist whose work has both recorded and shaped the cultural transformation of the UAE. His practice reflects a sustained commitment to visual inquiry rooted in heritage, place, and formal exploration. Through this major retrospective, Opera Gallery Dubai offers a comprehensive perspective on an artistic legacy that continues to inform contemporary art in the region.