Mowjood | NFT

​Usually, I’d have everyone write their own story but Big Hass is one of those humble humans that will probably not do justice to his greatness. So I’ve decided to attempt to do it for him.

You cannot talk about our region’s music scene without mentioning Big Hass. In fact, I think he’s the most hard-working and influential figures in the industry. Some know him as the host of Saudi Arabia’s first Arabic hip hop radio station (Laish Hip Hop), while others know him as an MC, or en event organizer, or a host on Pulse 95 radio. Yes, he’s all of that combined but much more. This man has dedicated his life to lifting homegrown musicians up from a purely underground listenership to the sound systems of the average joe.

But hey, human beings have personal lives too, right? This man moved his family to Dubai solely so his autistic son could have more opportunities to develop. Since then, he’s become the loudest voice you that screams “AUTISM IS NOT A DISEASE!”

Unfortunately, there are a few idiots that come at him for the pettiest of reasons. Like this guy hasn’t done enough the community already. But hey, someone once told me, “life is like a video game; if no one’s shooting at you then you’re going the wrong way.”

ps. Big Hass can probably be president one day. I’d definitely vote for him.

My name is Maha Abdelghaffar Jaafar
I go with Maha AJ because it is easier.

I am a dentist who found herself on social media by a complete coincidence.

I’ve always had a passion for comedy and acting and when I got the chance to create this type of content on social media, it was one of the best moments of my life and I knew I had to hang on to it with all my power.

I created a lot of content and I was blessed with so much love and support that made me get to milestones I’ve never imagined I could ever reach.

However I started losing connection with myself in the process. I struggled with discipline, creativity and motivation. I forgot about my blessings and lost focus of what originally inspired me.

Today, with the power of love and so much gratitude, I officially stand strong and decide that this is a new beginning.
A new beginning where I am living life more true to myself.

I am in love with the richness of my culture and I believe in the potential of my people and that’s the reason I choose to continue creating content that empowers, represents and inspires.

Follow your passion and never give up on what you love, never let the fire inside you die because this fire can change lives and reshape your future.

​I’m Emma Brain, and I’ve been in the UAE since 2003. What do I do? Radio and tv presenter, voiceover, writer, sometimes actress and model.

In the last few weeks, I’ve been working on personal projects to expand my portfolio, learning a few new things, and focusing on what I want to do next. The pandemic has really changed the way the media industry has been working and it’s super tough for freelancers, so it’s about reinventing and expanding horizons.

I’ve been working a lot on my acting skills and a few recent projects, one for a social app and another for a student film have really helped with that.

I take inspiration from so many people and am always listening and learning from others.

My industry, in particular, has been hit extremely hard and definitely online, self-promotion and working for yourself is the way to go.

It’s never too late 🤞
I’m self acceptance advocate, i feel the need to be an example for my children to encourage them to accept those that society deems different which means I could no longer live my life concealing my difference. I believe that once you embrace your natural beauty, you will able to embrace the world around you & accepting perfection in your imperfections.
Today i would use my vitiligo to raise awareness about not only struggles faced by people suffering from this condition, but also inspiring other people embrace their uniqueness.
For me, the past year has been something else… it’s opened my eyes to many things and many people. It had its ups and downs, ins and outs. And I believe we’ve all been able to take something from that and grow in our own imparticular ways. We have overcome obstacles, and set in motion opportunities that can change our own individual lives.
I’m here… I’m MOWJOOD

My name is Haifa, like “High five 🖐” just with a “faa” in the end.

I find writing this caption to represent myself not easy. Answering the question of “Who are you?” always seems complicated to me.

As I believe we are diverse infinite beings that are constantly evolving.

Anyhow, let me try sharing a bit about myself.

My soul was born in a female body.

Ever since I was born I was a day dreamer, a thinker, and a little bit of a rebel.

One of my biggest achievements is challenging my strict school principle with the concept of the school system, then quitting my full time comfortable job in TV to travel the world and launch my YouTube channel.

I started as a girl who wants to bridge between cultures and wipe away stereotypes and racism creatively.

My videos reached millions of views and received many awards.

I then grew to care about my inner world fulfillment more than anything, this feeling of receiving an inner award means a lot to me.

I dream to use my voice on social media for a positive reason. I’m aware of how toxic social media could get and how it can affect our mental health, I want to be a part of the positive force and healing.

Lastly I was a girl who built a la la land in her mind, became a part time unicorn 🦄 part time workaholic. I guess that was my way to deal with the unpleasant part of life.

Then I became a person who was hit by reality especially when I had time to think about it, I saw many things that hurt me and I would cry some nights, feel helpless in another, or even guilty for not being able to do much for a lot of

suffering souls.

One of my biggest realizations was the effect of the patriarchy on our communities that I thought was long gone.

I was shocked to see the low key control it has over our community and women since history.

And sometimes, we don’t even know it.

We’re afraid to see it. Because fighting it will not be easy …. not only will we be dealing with patriarchy and what it brings, but we might be attacked by some women in the process.

I channel the energy and connect with all

The great women and men that lived and fought for a cause peacefully, creatively, and powerfully.

On this earth we may pay our human tax,

And be of service.

Yours truly,

High five

​Mony and Sara, two passionate curly women who will stop at nothing. One of our favorite things in the world is curly & textured hair. We have been working relentlessly on opening the first real and authentic curly hair salon in Dubai. Our dream is to change the stigma around curly hair, that it’s messy, unprofessional, unattractive or any of the other bad reputations it’s always been associated with it.
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​We’ve struggled all our life to understand it to give it what it wants so we can make it look like we want it to. And after getting trained and certified by Lorraine Massey, the woman who unlocked its secrets, and after reading and continuing to research and make ourselves more knowledgeable, we are happily and eagerly sharing our knowledge and helping our curly clients reach this once-upon-a-time unattainable goal.
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​After COVID-19, we are working harder and more vigilant as ever to keep doing what we do in a safer and controlled environment. We draw inspiration from several international curly hairstylists, but nature, especially trees, is a constant reminder of hair shapes and silhouettes that resemble our curls in so many ways.
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​The word art has so many beautiful things that fall under it and we take pleasure in creating art every time we give a girl a custom-made dry curly cut that can transform the way she looks entirely.
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​If someone had told us just 3 years ago, that we’d be doing this, we would’ve both had officially declared you insane. But here we are, curly hair stylists, waking up every day, wondering how we’ll take a head of curls and sculpt with our shears something magnificent out of it.

I am an Emirati filmmaker and I have constantly struggled to portray my identity in my truest form. I feel like I pick and choose the part of me I represent to different people. I am traditional at heart, I appreciate family time and the values we grew up around in the Emirati culture. However, I also have a free spirited creative side of me that wouldn’t be accepted in certain sections of our society. I sometimes think I struggle with having to balance the two. Which ends with me feeling like I am not representing myself in my truest form. As if some part of me will always be “a secret”.

There is a fine line between comedy and drama.. They are both real, both will capture your attention, and.. here’s the irony .. When crafted well, they’ll both get you in tears!

Today I walked in at the @hotelindigodubai to meet @waleedshah and shoot my Mowjood with ZERO expectation! I did it intentionally cuz it’s good to let ur spirit free and let yourself go with the flow.

We had a nice talk, discovered that we mutually admired each others’ work. We had a discussion about the Magic of good content, the richness it brings to the world. We debated global struggles and reflected on the perfect imperfection that dominates our human kind. The imperfection that carves our identities and gears us up for the journey ahead.

My message to you today is.. Embrace your imperfection and seize every opportunity to laugh your tail off!

Mental storms have been a part of my life since I was little. When I was 11 years old my dad was kidnapped for 3 months and less than a year later I lost my brother to kidnapping and murder when he was only 26 years old. We had to leave our country due to the violence, spending the next 20 years trying to unravel my brother’s disappearance.

My family and I made it through that but in 2018 a perfect storm was waiting for me: within a year I went through a divorce, was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer and faced the loss of my dad.

Pain and loss have defined a lot of who I am as a person. It has shaped my character and toughened my heart and mind. But it has also reinforced my belief that love is the force that help us heal and overcome even the most painful of circumstances.

A lot of what I went through seemed unfair, unexpected, and most was completely outside of my control. For so long I got caught up on the “why me?” “why us?” loop that often leads to nowhere. It’s easy to victimize yourself under such circumstances of pain. But, my parents amazingly didn’t do that. Seeing them face the trauma of the loss of their son with such strength taught me a lot about the ways in which we can control our minds through the storm.

Eventually, however, the storm catches up with you and comes at full force through guilt and sorrow. I felt guilty for being ill. I felt guilty for causing my family pain through my illness. I felt guilty for talking about it, or for not talking about it enough. There is so much guilt in trauma.

Working through my mental storm – thanks to different forms of therapy – is building a better version of myself: a more conscious, more loving Luz. Seeking help was a genuine act of self love. It takes courage and vulnerability to face our fears and our deepest most painful memories. But it is the most rewarding process I have ever embarked myself on. I am hoping my story can encourage others to seek help. It sounds ridiculously cliched but it is a universal truth: we can improve the world around us by improving ourselves and healing our wounds.

I was pretty excited about shooting with @waleedshah again for #Mowjood // Some may or may not know- the last time we shot, we broke the internet. A spontaneous shoot in #Satwa that ended up in the papers, and a whole panel around it. Fun times 😩😬

“I’m a double flatty… my own empowerment looks different. Women should be able to make their own decision about their own bodies.”

We are so grateful and honored to be the platform to share the story of Lucy Harwood – her experience with surviving breast cancer, owning her womanhood, and her love for life.

Earlier this month, our team thought of how to approach Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Research about the disease and raising awareness for early detection was part of our agenda, but more importantly, we felt it was as important if not more, to hold space for women who experienced breast cancer, because they held the hope and reality of it all.

Caught between doing too much and feeling like It’s never enough. As of 2021 I feel like I’ve solidified my entrepreneur title. Celebrating @hrmnyco 3rd anniversary and making it through a tough 2020 with my partners & bros @aytheproducer @jeed . On the flipside, as an artist I’ll be completing a series of records I’m titling ‘Til Infinity’ with a 2 song release on March 5th. I don’t think I can ever do one thing at a time, I’m writing this caption while I drive to work, don’t tell RTA 🙏🏻. Thank you @waleedshah for creating this experience where I get to feel comfortable taking a minute to think of my journey and speak on it. انا موجوووود 🤞🏻

Hi! I’m Alex but most times people call me House of Social I’ve noticed 😅

I’m the founder & creative media strategist of @alexHouseofSocial a consulting & education business I launched 4 years ago, when decided to quit the job I was so miserable at!

The last few months feel like a crazy looped rollercoaster…! You know the ones where you think it’s about to end and then it only keeps on going to the most unexpected places! One of which as been the re-launch of my Online Academy, what was once a paid model now, it’s totally 100% FREE to access all my courses online on Social Media Marketing, either you have a business, you want to start or you a marketter I’m on a mission to help you get to your ultimate happiness!

We are almost 2,000 students or as I like to call my community rebels. You need to find the courage to bet on yourself and create the life you want to work hard, and fight for what makes you happy! That’s the ultimate goal: Happiness. ❤️🤘🏼

Hotel Indigo group have collaborated with the photographer Waleed Shah to celebrate its female leadership team for International Women’s Day on March 8. The UAE-based photographer has shot the team in a creative concept shoot called “Mowjood”, which means “I’m here, I exist”.

Shah aims to illustrate the powerful yet feminine character of each woman and express their pride in being a successful woman in the industry. Shah said: “The ladies at Hotel Indigo are rockstars. Their confidence in what they bring to the table shines through in this image.”

Fifty-six percent of Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown’s leaders at the property are women. Female colleagues have taken the majority of mid-management and top-management roles, some of which are typically occupied by males in the hospitality industry such as security manager or director of finance and business support.

The hotel’s general manager, Laura Eggleton, started her journey in hospitality at 13 years old, where she worked at a small family-run hotel. She was appointed to her first general manager role at the age of just 22, before venturing to the Middle East where she became the first female general manager for InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts in the region. Eggleton is now leading a team of more than 100 employees at Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown.

Eggleton said: “I’m so proud to be surrounded by a diverse team – loaded with professional and fun women who contribute so much to the everyday successes of our brand-new boutique hotel. I’m particularly passionate about supporting the growth of females in the hospitality industry here in the UAE and truly believe that a better balanced and diversified team will always yield better results for all.”

Other female leaders in the hotel include Neetu Sajnani, director of finance and business support, Sayad Ibrahimli, director of marketing and sales, Lauren Bracken, director of sales and Mansi Swain, reservation and revenue manager.

​My name is Rund Samman. I’m a 21-year-old Graphic Designer from Saudi Arabia. I wouldn’t really want to introduce myself as that though because I’d like to believe that I’m not just a graphic designer.. more of a creative and passionate soul, but I guess graphic designer sounds more professional.

The last few months starting lockdown were a disaster. I was at a very low point in my life.. lazy, demotivated, and kind of lost. I sat at home overthinking my entire life for 4 months. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life once I graduated and started asking myself, do I want to get a job? Do I want to study masters? Do I just want to do nothing? I guess I was just scared that I wouldn’t be able to succeed in anything I would do after university. I think I’m still scared of that because my family and friends see me as this great designer who can achieve whatever she sets her mind to, but I don’t really see it yet. I don’t want to disappoint anyone with my decisions but I also don’t want to do anything I don’t want to do, and I’m still trying to figure out a way to deal with that.

My latest project was my senior project at University, where I created a makeup brand that helps empower women in Saudi Arabia and helps them overcome all the stereotypical thoughts people have about them.
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There are so many artists in the world that inspire us all, but I don’t really have a specific one that inspires me, it’s mostly the people around me that inspire me… my family, my friends, my professors. But my dad especially is someone I aspire to be like.
I believe that the art world is a place where people can express themselves freely without being judged, a world where you are free to be whoever u are and whoever u want to be and no one can tell you otherwise. And I hope it stays that way because everyone needs a place to escape to, and I guess art is my escape from reality.
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I should really be telling myself this as well but, stop doubting their capabilities, because you really can do anything you set your mind to if you do what you love then you’ll never fail.

@sawsan_saad for Mowjood| موجود
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​Egyptian by blood, Emirati by heart and Jordanian in thinking best describes me. This combination made me an expert in multiple accents and languages. I am a known Tv and Radio presenter around GCC and MENA.
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I started my career in 2009 with fox international channels and now in Dubai media. I am a proud 32 year old influencer also international announcer and Stadium MC. I was selected by FIFA to MC and announce the World Cup in 2018 and 2019. I also announced the AFC Asia UAE Cup 2019. 
My passion includes sports, adventures, entertainment, fashion, Food as well as hosting web and TV shows.

I’ve been spending the last few weeks on online courses, Cooking new recipes, YouTube fitness stuff, and going live every day with one of my friends.

The pandemic made me change everything, the way I think, the way I do things, and also to be a better version of my self to adapt the new changes coz the big challenge is not now, it’s after corona.

I’m currently working on two movies after the pandemic that will be in cinemas. One is a comedy and the other is a thriller. I’ve also got a new Instagram show, new YouTube show called “Top Dish”, new TV show called “After Corona”, and finally, I’m working to complete my Phd in Media.

When it comes to the art world, I think a lot depends on how long this all lasts, of course,I’m an optimist in a time of crisis. Creativity was with us in the caves; it’s in every bone in our bodies. Viruses don’t kill art. But even successful artists will be pushed to the limits and I think Instagram is almost all we’ve got. I really advise artists to think globally and act locally, Of course, art will go on. That goes without saying since art is much bigger and deeper than the business that supports it. Art will vanish only when all the problems it was invented to explore have been explored.

In times like these we have to support each other by “giving”. Trust your self, believe in your superpowers, focus more on your dreams, forgive yourself and love every day. Simply live your life with passion and love and wash your hands 5 times a day.

ps. Shout out to Mohamed Saeed Hareb creator of @freejcartoon

Had a blast shooting this cover with one of the most talented and creative photographers I know @waleedshah it was great being back in Dubai, for those of you that don’t know I was born and raised there.

If you’re wondering “Mougleta” is not my real name. My parents use to call me Mowgli growing up as I was a lot like the character from “The Jungle Book”. I could very much relate to the character as I never felt I belonged anywhere. Growing up I moved around a lot and lived in many different cities to name a few Beirut, Boston, Dubai, Toronto, and now Berlin! I know that’s a lot, I never felt I had a hometown as all of these cities were special to me. Welcome to the jungle

Lost between 2 worlds the west and the east , coming from a conservative family but born into a society that excepts everyone as they are ….
Physically and mentally abused from the age of 13 , when my family decided to leave the west and move to the east of the world ,
A world that criticized me in every way “ your skin is too dark , your hair is too curly , you’re not supposed to work , you’re not supposed to wear this , learn to be a good house wife , cook and clean …etc.
Just literally telling me every day not to be ME !!
So with many contradictions inside of me , the biggest fight I have been battling is to be myself for myself !
The biggest battle was to say NO :
NO to the norm of the society
NO to emotional and physical abuse
NO to betrayal
NO to control
NO to mixing LOVE with ABUSE
and NO to making this seem normal in front of my child !!

Today I’m a proud mom and successful marketer … almost ABUSE FREE
Happy to finally accept and love who I am not what the society wants me to be
Teaching my child acceptance and love is my main goal in life
So, to all these BRAVE GIRLS out there struggling to be themselves:
PEOPLE WILL HATE U
RATE U
SHAKE U
BREAK U
BUT HOW STRONG YOU STAND
IS WHAT MAKES YOU !
And for the love of my child I’ll remain ANONYMOUS …..

I am not writing this from a place of vulnerability, weakness or shame. I have done that enough times growing up in this world, that it would fill hundreds of thousands of novels. I have hid behind society’s closed curtains and walls of shame for the vast majority of my life. I was told that sharing my story would bring me and my loved ones dishonor and humiliation. I will no longer play the victim card, for I am an unsung hero. I rose from the ashes of cultural oppression to speak my truth. The truth that has made me who I am – strong, empathetic and influential. The indignity brought on by my harasser has now depleted. Instead, I am brimming with incessant surges of power and resilience. I will shout from the rooftops and I will gather the herds of survivors. I will march and stride alongside the women and men who share my truth, with my head held high. From this moment on, I will speak how I please, I will wear what I please and I will do as I please. Don’t forget, that this is only the beginning of the march. I will continue to speak up and hold you accountable for your actions and misdemeanor. I am no longer afraid. I am no longer silent. I am no longer anonymous for I realised that this is not my story alone. I am you. I am her. I am your mother, your sister, your best friend and your next door neighbour. 

I am not anonymous. I am Egyptian. I am Arab. I am female. 

‘Jane Of All Trades’, someone once commented on a post of mine, referring to all the shit they’ve probably seen me do. I’m a model, writer, host, and content creator who never thought I was skilled in anything at all. I started modeling at the age of 15 as a way to make extra money and take part in fashion- an industry I had been fascinated by since before I could remember. But another dream of mine was to be a published writer, something I pursued right after university. Soon after I achieved all those goals was when the feeling of emptiness kicked in. You see, I thought achieving the surface-level wins would change how I felt on the inside . I was fabulously mistaken.

Today, I’m a freelance content copywriter, model, actor for commercial shoots, content creator, and host. It is every bit as colorful as you’d imagine. Pre-pandemic Shereen was always on the run, never a moment to consider why I felt unhappy where I was and what needed change. It was only after I was made redundant months ago that I started believing in my true capabilities. This was also a period of growth, survival, and setting new personal goals after achieving my childhood dreams. I’ve come to accept that no matter where I am, as long as I control my narrative and create, I thrive.

Being around creatives during this pandemic keeps me sane and made me realize the importance of living authentically and doing anything that sparks joy to you, as Marie Kondo would say. I’ve moved back to Dubai to follow my intuition and to allow my vibrations to reach their peak and I look forward to keep on keeping on. Truthfully, I tend to ponder on the future of other creatives, especially during such a time. Still, I know we won’t ever dissipate because the creative community’s most prominent supporter is the creatives. And we’re all creative in our own right.

So if you’ve been feeling down, confused, and ready to give up on your passion- please don’t. You’re not alone, and you’ve got this. We’re all here for you.

I am still alive.
That has become my response when someone asks me how I am.
Covid has changed our lives, our work, our space but it has shown no side effect towards our resilience.
Man is a creature of habit. Business as usual.
As for me, not only am I still alive, but with the presence of my partner @hugonarciso , the help of our usual suspects (hello team!) and the support of my wife @maya_zamaraghdis , ana mawjood.
I am here. I exist. I am present.

Thank you @waleedshah for this beautiful spread. Great eye, greater artist.

Being a performer ‘singing’ is one way I get to express myself and it makes me feel like it’s almost a better version of myself that I get to become… So I didn’t let it stop me singing and dancing in my bedroom when I feel I needed that release during lockdown to try and distract myself from the crazy world 🌎

Alongside this I did the usual lockdown checklist – Making banana bread(for the first time and it was great) – Pajama parties(gave it a name so I didn’t feel too guilty about being in pajamas all day eating popcorn) -Read a good lockdown book ‘When I Woke Up’ by @pauljohnevs (it’s a true story on having the spirit to survive and living life to the full) which was ideal at this challenging time!

Now the end is in sight and I am gradually getting back to doing what I love! I have been working with @dannylangston_drums on a duo act with vocals and percussion. We shot a promo video recently(find us @redlightinsta) We were outside and it took way longer than expected and ended up with heatstroke and was sick for three days! #behindthescenes that’s commitment for you 😂

I’m now well and raring to go more than ever before and ready to take your booking. So hit me up for your event today ;)

My name is Waleed Shaalan I am an architect by profession and artists by passion, some call me the ARTitect. I have been spending the past few weeks doing 2020 things, taking care of my 18-year-old son who had Covid-19, drawing working online and, moving to a cheaper flat and dealing with what 2020 brings us. I love 2020, first, it is better than 536AD, second, it helped a lot slowing us down and making us remember what really matters. Pre pandemic I already started slowing down which made me prepared for post-pandemic!

​My latest professional project is in AlUla Saudi Arabia where I work as a design director for the French Agency for the development of AlUla on the master plan of what is yet to come. My personal project is a book of self-portraits sketches. Self Portraits are different than selfies, the selfie shows the world how we look, while the self-portrait shows how we feel. A mirror that can reflect beyond the depth of your skin and into your soul. The meditative process of drawing helps me reflect and look inside. I am inspired by people not just artists, people who are not afraid of being real and of expressing themselves whether it’s their clothes, words tattoos. People inspire me.
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​The artworld is something I never could understand. I love art but I don’t know anything about the art world. I just love to doodle.
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​I would like to tell the world to google the year 536AD and realize that 2020 is not so bad. Learn from it and stop complaining about it! Love Waleed :)

I want to speak about what’s on the mind of the Class of 2020, or shall I say, the Class of COVID19. The best part of our final year in school was cut short, put into a laptop, and packaged under the pretty label “distance learning.” We said, okay, maybe it’ll get better in July. At least I got into my dream school, @ubcsauderschool! As we waited behind our screens for a comeback greater than ever, mother nature made it clear to us that she wants her sweet, sweet revenge. University is now online, first term only. Okay, we said, spring is going to be crazy! We were wrong… again… Our entire freshman year is now online.

After celebrating my graduation on YouTube with ⅓ of my family, I waited for a better ending of 2020. My hopes were slashed once again when my study visa to Canada was rejected. Then again when my university announced full “distance learning” a.k.a. a student’s worst nightmare. Then again when I tested positive for COVID-19.

Studying 11 hours ahead of my university, on my dining table, with a sparse population of friends in the country is not desirable. I would be lying if I didn’t say that I’m going a bit crazy, my temper and patience is dwindling, and my desire to study is near zero. This is an all too familiar situation for my fellow classmates.

But you know what? After all of the bullshit that has been thrown at us, the Class of COVID19 is still waiting for that comeback. The year that was on our minds ever since we waddled into kindergarten was unexpectedly the worst year of most of our lives.

The resilience and adaptability of humanity is most concentrated within the ambitious young adult. The fuel of education has readied us to launch into the galaxy, but it just so happened that launch day was postponed due to bad weather. But we will launch.

Let it be known, that when we are free, we will live the 2020 that we desired for so long.

The year that we come back is the year we live OUR 2020.

And you know what? On behalf of my classmates, we have one last thing to say: Fuck you COVID!

An Interior Architect by trade, but also a designer, music curator, DJ, design teacher, a sort of renaissance woman of all things creative? In this day in age, I’d like to believe there’s potential in excelling in all that you’re capable of, despite popular opinion.

Having worked corporate for over 7 years, burying myself in work, and the high expectations I set as a standard, I needed to take a step back and dabble in every avenue that I found pleasure in. Once you lose a consistent income, you may struggle to find places you can express your art in an already saturated market…here, at this place of discomfort, you find solace in networking and meeting others on a similar journey.

I ventured down this path of exploration so that when I did step back into the corporate world, I’d be able to not only enhance my skill set but more importantly create a healthy balance between work, my other passions, and of course family.

As a fresh Masters graduate, I’m now awaiting the right opportunity to present itself, given the current market, I’ve approached companies with a few different strategies, namely freelance consulting on a time basis, or project by project basis; it keeps me busy, and my creativity churning. It helps to keep an eye on the busy talent during this period and someone I look towards as inspiration is Jonathon Ashmore of Anarchitect; who has tapped into a unique client base, and created stunning scenes all over the country.

I’ve always had a vision for the creative world, and it may have taken a pandemic to cause it, but artists like painters, graphic designers, installation artists, may continue as they were, but architects, interior designers, photographers, advertising specialists, and graphic producers, most of whom work in collaboration with others, will need to hone in on their own talents as society shifts more towards third spaces, cafes, home offices etcetera, and though collaboration may still occur, I will continue to say, if you can acquire the skill sets of the team around you, acquire and conquer.

I’m Alysha N., and I’m stepping back into the workplace.

I’m Maram Ashour! An Egyptian / Canadian / Dubaian. You could say I’m an Art Director turned Fitness freak. Or you could say that I’ve turned fitness into my art.

I’m an everyday girl who, like everyone, had a battle with hating my workouts and being way too hard on myself & my body image. But once I found HIIT & used my creative background to make fun & diverse workouts, I fell in love with sweating. I just needed to share that feeling with everyone. My passion for fitness & for making a positive difference made me decide to take a leap of faith and work on me & my brand.

I’ve spent the last few weeks virtually training a badass group of women, who push me to be a better instructor and person! I’ve spent it hugging my 2 fur babies, enjoying morning coffees with my husband & Eid feasts with family & friends. I guess what I’m trying to show is that being fit & healthy is both physically & mentally. Find a middle ground where you get to enjoy life too! Don’t ever let your workout or “diet” interfere with important moments!

Post Pandemic? Is it even over? Haha. Well actually, I decided to quit my job pre-Pandemic and freelance as an Art Director, while I give my classes & Youtube workouts more focus. Suddenly COVID hit and boom zero freelancing jobs! I actually didn’t stress at all, I saw it as my opportunity to give my Fitness passion the chance it really deserved, and I am so thankful that I did that, it’s given me so much happiness & purpose. Post pandemic, I’m gonna work twice as hard to build my brand & get people loving to workout!

My latest project has been my 1 WEEK HIIT CHALLENGE on YouTube. Free workouts every day, just for 1 week so that it is a measurable realistic goal. Making it easy & accessible to every single person!

I hope Art can be carried everywhere, in paintings, films, ads, workouts, and just life.

I’d like to end this by saying be kinder to yourself.
We are each our own worst critic & we can be so damn hard on ourselves. There’s beauty every single one of you, find it and embrace the hell out of it <3

Its natural to be asked to introduce yourself, but I just don’t know where to begin. I entered the design field because it allowed me to jump and explore different mediums and platforms, there are simply no boundaries to what outcome you may get. I fell in love with art and design, most of it was towards painting and illustrations. Until today, I still have so many different parts of me to explore and question. Being confident was something I slowly learned as I grew, while choosing and spreading the energy you want to be surrounded with will push you towards great places.

Production Multiverse Wizard and Cofounder of GOOD Stills – a boutique Dubai production agency that shoots some great work with awesome people most of the time.

I’m equal parts self confidence and self doubt — full speed in both directions at the same time. I’m the perfectionist who will let it roll as it will, and have found confidence in knowing I will always do my best and just a little bit more. And that it’s ok when it’s not enough.

I work really hard, and I lose myself in this. It’s hard to know where one Jolianne starts and the other begins.  Maybe I don’t know how to talk about myself without talking about GOOD. Maybe she’s just part of who I am.

We get to make things every day — things that didn’t exist before. I get to be inspired by creatives from all over the world, and bring a bit of myself into every project we work on. I hope most times for the better. Some people might think that advertising is the enemy of art… I’d like to think I help artists adapt their world to mine. And get paid (because that’s alright, too) I think that advertising hungers for art and only becomes better when the lines blur between the two. The opposing forces need each other in a way… I find that interesting.

COVID taught me patience. During lockdown I had a set of rules – every day to work, exercise, play piano, and cook. I fed my senses and my mind.  I had no production to work on other than myself, and the days I didn’t stick to it were the darkest. I had to trust that the work would come. And it did, as it always does. And I’m thankful. This year has taught me to be very, very thankful.

What do I want to tell the world? Harness the self doubt, the sleepless nights, the bad and good ideas, the insecurity and the bravado – and do something with it.  That even from the ugly, beautiful things can be made. To listen, to be inspired, pack the ego away – the world is full of the most interesting things when you take the time to look and you aren’t in your own way.

​Things gotta die for things to exist. Be it food, territory, or accidental. Had the pleasure to be captured by @waleedshah who was able to precisely bring out my thousand words in 1 picture.

I’m Maram Ashour! An Egyptian / Canadian / Dubaian. You could say I’m an Art Director turned Fitness freak. Or you could say that I’ve turned fitness into my art.

I’m an everyday girl who, like everyone, had a battle with hating my workouts and being way too hard on myself & my body image. But once I found HIIT & used my creative background to make fun & diverse workouts, I fell in love with sweating. I just needed to share that feeling with everyone. My passion for fitness & for making a positive difference made me decide to take a leap of faith and work on me & my brand.

I’ve spent the last few weeks virtually training a badass group of women, who push me to be a better instructor and person! I’ve spent it hugging my 2 fur babies, enjoying morning coffees with my husband & Eid feasts with family & friends. I guess what I’m trying to show is that being fit & healthy is both physically & mentally. Find a middle ground where you get to enjoy life too! Don’t ever let your workout or “diet” interfere with important moments!

Post Pandemic? Is it even over? Haha. Well actually, I decided to quit my job pre-Pandemic and freelance as an Art Director, while I give my classes & Youtube workouts more focus. Suddenly COVID hit and boom zero freelancing jobs! I actually didn’t stress at all, I saw it as my opportunity to give my Fitness passion the chance it really deserved, and I am so thankful that I did that, it’s given me so much happiness & purpose. Post pandemic, I’m gonna work twice as hard to build my brand & get people loving to workout!

My latest project has been my 1 WEEK HIIT CHALLENGE on YouTube. Free workouts every day, just for 1 week so that it is a measurable realistic goal. Making it easy & accessible to every single person!

I hope Art can be carried everywhere, in paintings, films, ads, workouts, and just life.

I’d like to end this by saying be kinder to yourself.
We are each our own worst critic & we can be so damn hard on ourselves. There’s beauty every single one of you, find it and embrace the hell out of it <3

I’m Shefan Lantra, some know me as Mr Shef Codes. You might have come across me in a club when I’m mixing in the DJ booth… or you might have come across my Instagram (insert insta handle) because of my love for collecting sneakers. In hindsight collecting Stamps would have taken up less space!
I’ve been spending the last few months searching for inspiration with music which has led me to pause, have a hard reset, re-strategise and come back out with a new plan, new way of thinking and a new way of executing.
That new way of thinking has made way for new projects for me personally, and also with some real good friends, which I’m going to keep hush about for now until they are off the ground.
The art world has been crashing lately and there’s nothing anyone can do about it other than help and support, whether it’s buying, sharing, commenting and actively talking about their work.
The world needed some time to breathe and it became apparent we’re all in this together.
I say wear your mask, wash your hands and listen to good music.

je is @noushlikesploosh. as i recover from a mildly symptomatic bout of covid, embedded in yet another quarantine, i’ve been comforted by the distraction of making things. retreating inwards into a cave, speaking to a handful of special folks, and getting intimate with the moon cycles, my cycles, and craft. being isolated is uncomfortable AF. i’m going a little nutty, and i have to twist my head very sideways to make some semblance of meaning of things. i realize how my body is incubating a tiny baby virus, who has just burst forth into existence, who is also just trying to survive like any other being. perhaps if i think of this time as a collaboration, it may be more bearable. it’s been alright so far, maybe i’m lucky, or maybe my immune system isn’t feeling the need to treat this outsider as such a threat. i am an indian woman, i cannot deny even a virus some basic hospitality. i make songs and poems, i draw very nicely, but i struggled to understand why, until i read how @zara_mahmood_ described her practice of drawing as a form of research. i spent 10 years working on a music album, #whimcycle, and i promised myself this year i would finish all the videos, so i might call you for a favor about it. @gayamusic has contributed a great many of her talents to my art, life and sanity. these days, are no songs minus @nikimukhii and @vallsalexandre. lately i have been busying myself on some music vids for moi & @4ncurrency. i got back into animation and learned how to sew, and somehow making a film is the same thing as stitching a tablecloth. i’m [re]building a material practice, and [un]learning how to use my instruments. i work best intuitively, inviting my intellect afterwards. i’m making room for the unintelligible, handing over to embodied experience. one of my strategies for coping with crisis has been surrendering. for a recovering perfectionist, this has been liberating. it’s a treat to see myself in this glamorous avatar, in this series of photos @waleedshah has taken, to see my grey hairs embraced by the lens. i look like i know what i’m doing.

I’m a fresh grad who never wanted to have a traditional desk job. I had so many goals to accomplish after graduation but 2020 had other plans. I knew I’d have to spend my life in front of a screen if I decided to work in the design field and that’s why I had planned to explore things this summer.

Covid didn’t really give me the chance to explore so I was just applying and applying on LinkedIn and getting 0 responses.

That’s when I decided to stop applying towards the end of July because I was sick of it. I filled my time with some freelance work and running when I felt like it since that was the ‘safe’ way to exercise post lockdown. 

@ahmedali12374 was running 5kms everyday around different parts in Dubai to raise money for @aljalilauae and I just joined him whenever I felt like it. It wasn’t easy. The humidity and the heat and the struggle after all the quarantine food. Running wasn’t that fun.

But also, that was how I reconnected with @raghadgomaa who suggested I should run with her and the @innerfight community on a Thursday morning at 5:59am and I thought that was waaay too early but I did it two weeks in a row and it was amazing. The community and the support and the coffee. Everything was just on point. And later that evening, after the run she forwarded me the job posting that they’ve put up on their Instagram and I applied straight away thinking MAYBE I’ll get a reply with this one. Just maybe.

This was after running with them for two weeks.

The week after I got an email from @mjd_smith for an interview after the run on Thursday and we discussed things and that is how I currently have a job in the middle of a global pandemic.

The one thing I want to tell people is, they should go out of their comfort zones more and interact with people offline more than they do online. Get up earlier. Go to different places. Find a community. Whatever it is, just know that LinkedIn is not the only place you can find a job. No one can see who you are or your personality through a CV application.

​EXPRESSIONIST is the closest title to my purpose where I aim to help individuals fully express their most authentic selves in their own creative way. Content creation is all around us. And sometimes we wish to be part of it but we don’t necessarily know where to start and how to do it. For me, creating content has given me joy and enabled me to express my emotions and my art.

Before the pandemic, I created a community festival @chinchintalu that focused on art, mindfulness, and performances. I had also just launched an entertainment agency but then COVID happened. In quarantine, like many of us, I had a tough time finding my flow but I also had plenty of time to fully focus on experimenting with creating content and editing videos which triggered a new road for me.

Some friends were interested in my videos and asked me to coach them in choreographing videos for their own brands. Others had blockages in exposing themselves and their work which we worked through. And voila, with my previous experience in life coaching, I’m excited to announce that a transformative program is ready to help you tap into your own creative machine and overcome the fear of expression!

I tell the world that there is TRUTH in expressing yourself. Whatever it is. Your story, your life lesson, your skills, your silliness. Your gift is meant to be shared online or offline because someone in the world right now needs to hear or see what you have inside of you. Sharing who you are is your gift to the world. All you need is to find the courage to express and not care what others will think about you. Easier said than done. Hit me up if you would like to be shift and express!

Hey – my name’s Martyn Crocker, I’m an English Singer, songwriter and performer. I currently live in Al Ain, in Abu Dhabi with my family where I’m the Head of Secondary Music at a Private school. I’ve spent my first summer in the UAE because we couldn’t fly home, but we have had the most amazing time, travelling about, and doing excellent things. I’ve just played a load of fun shows in Dubai and it’s been a welcome addition to the awesome musical year that i’m having so far. I love the music scene here and the people I meet as part of the adventure of getting out there and being creative. The scene is so varied, supportive, inclusive and I am loving being a part of it. This year I released a new single and Music video and will be releasing more music over the next few months, with something larger coming out before the end of the year. The Pandemic really slowed me down, but I’m a big believer of everything happening at the right time, so I’ve just tried to keep patient and work hard at whatever comes my way, making new contacts and lining up things to experience as the world gradually opens again.
I try to live by the motto that I can do anything I put my mind to and work for. I’m excited for what comes next. ​
​

​Hey, Hope y’all are safe, healthy, and happy. My Name is Mohamed; At first, I’m not a man of many words but once the ice is broken I can’t stop talking.
​
I am what some might call an entrepreneur. Lately, like many of us I’ve been adjusting, adapting, and redefining the coffee game. The pandemic was good to some and harsh on others. It’s all a matter of perspective and where you are in life. It’s easy to say you have a choice to others when you are the one with that choice. Hence I tend to go on with life taking in the now and not overthinking the later. I was blessed with a great team and a supportive family, and we saw this pandemic through and emerged as the fastest-growing specialty coffee company in the UAE. The two cents that I would like to leave you with is that you don’t have to be great to start but you have to start to be great, keep going and let things be.

I wish you a hundred years of success but it’s my time.

@yesicaportilladancer for Mowjood
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​Hello, my name is Yesica, with Y and an S, special writing for a special girl. I am from Colombia where people are happy fun and most importantly they love art. I am a professional dancer passionate about the waist swagger and good music.

​The last few weeks I have enjoyed my life dedicating time to the most important person “ME” and I feel happy for the being that I have found, I have realized the new things that I am capable of doing and I am happy to start new projects that I had in mind but sometimes being cowardly stopped me to do it.
​
I remember the last project I did before the pandemic dressed as samba, I went on stage, I did my show and I never thought that it would take a long time without doing it again, the only satisfaction is knowing that every time I do it, my heart surrenders completely.

​Currently, I do not have an artist to inspire me, I feel inspired by people who do not stop, who dream, who fight, who live, and above all who are themselves without fear of what they will say.
​
Art has left me the best years of my life and I know that this pandemic can never stop this universal language which makes people live.
​
I hope that everyone can fulfill their dreams, live, love, and do what we like the most without neglecting your inner person.

You can say I come from many places that got mixed together to form one.

Every chapter in my life was so different, and it crafted a piece of my puzzle.

I believe originally I came from the ocean, it’s where my soul is! A daughter of the moon?

have been called something from everyone’s points of view.

Too crazy, too adventurous, low profile, too strong, too quiet, too blunt, fitness freak, too lazy, a nerd, too confident, too hesitant, too emotional, too heartless, too heartful, too stubborn, too understanding.

I heard unlimited opinions that weren’t asked for!

Today I do marketing for a living, tomorrow, who knows!

I am all, a little bit of everything, A human that is undefined.

​I am a mother AND freelancer MC and radio host / TV presenting as well as a content creator and X corporate and hotelier for 12 years. I have been spending these last few weeks busy and making this happen with everything that’s been happening ..this past pandemic showed me that being a mother and freelancer is the best decision I have made. Being a mother and hard-working and being able to be independent financially and being able to support my family and husband as well and being able to do a lot with kid and from home … that’s what has been my inspiration; A mother with a lot of AND’s. My latest project has been a lot of Instagram Collaborations with brands but the major one was presenting a whole event for a corporate bank from HOME on a digital platform with my daughter in the next room. Bigger things are coming if you want and never let motherhood stop you mama …أم و بعد موظفه مستقله في مجال التقديم و الاذاعه و صناعه محتوي .. مع خبره في مجال الوظيفي ل ١٢ سنه … في الاسابيع الي فاتت مع الازمه كنت مشغوله في تحقق اهداف كثيره في بالي و ما حبيت اوقف .. هذا الازمه خلتني اعرف انه قرار اكون أم و موظفه مستقله كان احسن قرار اخذتها في حياتي .. اني اكون أم و موظفه مستقله و معتمده علي نفسي و اساعد و ادعم بيتي معنويًا و ماديا و اقدر اكون في بيت و اسوي الكثير و انا أم و احقق الكثير من الاشياء و هذا الشي يلهمني الي هي الام و بعد .. اخر مشاريعي كانت كذا تعاون في مواقع تواصل الاجتماعي و اكبر شي كان تقديم حفل لاحد البنوك من البيت و عن طريقه المنصه الرقميه و بنتي في غرفه الي جنبي.. اشياء كبيره ممكن تصير في حياتك اذا كنت تريده يصير مهما كان و لا تخلي الامومه توقفك من تحقيق اي شي ..

My name is HayaYasmeen yes that’s my full first name it’s a compound name!

I am currently a presenter and producer at MBC TV with a background in performing arts and theater.

I am and have always been a dreamer. Growing up in Palestine I always felt like my voice wasn’t heard. Therefore I constantly strive to be heard.

Today, I travel the world for a living… Telling my story and sharing the story of places and people around the globe.

Until this year where I found myself in a position where this pandemic has restricted me from exploring the world, and I felt very stuck.

This year taught me how to be more still with the lack of movement, how important human connection is, how to breath and be kinder to myself, and more importantly it taught me to take more chances by getting out of my comfort zone.

I’m unapologetic to the things I stand for and believe in. I never settle for mediocre and whenever I accomplish a goal, I set my next challenge. Youtube!

Launching my YouTube channel this year was the most unsettling and exciting experience.

My message to the world would probably be as simple as ‘Be Kind’. This year has served as a reminder that we don’t realize the challenges other people are going through. Specially effecting many people’s mental health. Therefore the next time you lock eyes with a complete stranger… Smile 😊 It goes a long way….

​My name is Stephon LaMar. I am a songwriter and entertainer, from North Carolina, USA. Over the last few weeks, I have tried to become a bit more introspective. With so much time inside, and to myself, I’m exploring new creative mediums. I’ve taken online courses, began studying acting techniques, and am now learning to write scripts/screenplays. I’m also reading a new script every few days to get more comfortable in that space. Some of the local artists that inspire me are @Megatronicuk: an amazing Dj and connector; @ExclusiveYossif: music producer, friend, and someone who motivates me; @Elvanitaa: a dancer and model, also my girlfriend and my biggest supporter.

I feel during this pandemic, the world is really taking notice of how valuable we as artists are. While everyone is stuck in their homes, we as artists are right there, digitally and virtually, entertaining in one medium or another.

If I could tell the world one thing, it is: Be understanding, be empathetic, and be compassionate.

I’m Pirlanta Toubba, I’m a filmmaker and the founder of @Phenomena.tv, the creator of @lastseenlive and the Community Ambassador @nomad _dxb my passion for culture is my key driving force to enable and evolve the film and music communities to more active scenes within the industry.

I’ve been spending the last few weeks on how to further develop the business in these challenging times. My team and I have enhanced our branding and made plenty of time for webinars where we’ve interacted with industry professionals across the globe and be in the present whilst also thinking of our next steps forward independently and collectively.

I draw inspiration from a lot of regional artists one being Nadine Labaki – I love controversy and appreciate the true depiction of our realities in the Middle East. We need more films and art in general that communicate our stories globally. Through storytelling, we can break a lot of barriers and change the misconceptions portrayed in the Middle East. Apart from film, music is really important. Last Seen Live is not just a platform to showcase and support artists, at its core, it’s a cause. Last Seen Live was born to address the issues faced in our community. It’s not a quick fix, it’s going to take some time for the planted seed to grow. There’s so much talent and there seems to be no secured destination for them so far. But with a positive mindset and hard work, everything is attainable.

I think art is becoming less of an expression and more of an impression. Meaning everyone wants to more or less ‘impress’ given all the tools and technology, it’s becoming ‘cool’ to create. I’m on the other side of the spectrum, I see art as a form of expression. It’s cool when it’s real.

If there’s one thing I want to tell the world is to keep learning and work on expanding their knowledge and applying it by working with others. Teamwork is key to attaining growth and success. Stop doing everything on your own or taking shortcuts to get to where you want to be. Enjoy the journey, choose your team, create partnerships, and invest in yourself. Doing all the work on your own doesn’t end you up in the right places and shortcuts don’t usually take you too far. At some point, you want to take the high way to reach another city, no shortcuts there unfortunately and once you realize that you have to take the long road, you realize at that point you’re driving it alone. Let that sink in ;)

Hi! My name is Barbara Borkhoche. Just so you don’t wonder too much, I’m Lebanese, with what is said to be a Ukranian last name. No idea what my ancestors have done, but here we are. I’m a big fan of body art, comics and food, and a hotelier by profession. Inclusivity is very important to me. Unconscious bias in particular has been something I’ve faced for my body art. For that, I work hard to dilute the stigma that those who choose this form of art to express themselves are perceived as “weird”, “bad ass”, “uneducated”, “criminals” or other shitty labels of the likes.

Like everyone, I’ve had my ups and downs through the chaos of 2020. Can you imagine that the most negative word this year was “positive”? The explosion in my home country was a big wake up call for me to pursue what I’d been procrastinating, waiting “for the right time”. I’ve come to realize that there is no “right time”; there’s now and what we choose to do with it. And so, my deep love for connecting people to find ways to help one another and those in need inspired me to mobilize, through my network, Lebanese expats around the world, to help find solutions to help each other, be it through the crises we’ve faced, finding job opportunities and more.

Though 2020 has been unforgiving, it’s also pushed me to bring to life what I’ve been cooking up for a while. My next project is still a work in progress, but it’s moved along now more than it ever did! I can’t wait to share it with the world, to show you how you can have a great time while helping others. Basically, let me help you help J From more recent experiences, an important message I’d share is: don’t ever push anyone to be what you think is right, it isn’t your place. Saying that someone should be confident doesn’t mean that their confidence can only come from what you approve. The perception that beauty is only acceptable “a certain way” whether it be natural, airbrushed, makeup, body art or the lack of, is equally as toxic. It’s no one’s place to decide what is an appropriate source of confidence for anyone but themselves. Stay kind, always.

My name is Anika and I’ve been a freelance content strategist meets personal growth enthusiast the past 6 months.

Life has been a wild ride since COVID-19 hit. I want to share one big aspect of my journey, in case it could help just one person.

It started when I left my job in March, ready for a new chapter. Instead, the world shut down, my new role never showed up and my body broke, at the same time. The doctors found a large ovarian cystadenoma with a ridiculously high cancer marker, that had to be removed in 6 weeks. If it grew any bigger, the whole ovary would be removed too. I was also told my tubes were pretty much irreversibly damaged, so “might as well take those out too”. That was a really bad day.

I went home, mourned, then decided to pick myself up. 75% of disease is linked to stress alone, so I knew I had to actively DE-STRESS. First I watched the Netflix documentary “Heal”, which was an amazing reminder that our bodies are truly capable of anything. I’m lucky enough to have a holistic health coach as a mom, who helped create an alternative game plan for me. In a nutshell, we incorporated hypnotherapy, mindset work, meditation, herbal medicine, supplements, a simple but hormone-friendly, anti-inflammatory, gut-healing diet, homeopathy, moringa seeds, no real exercise (!), no coffee (!), and of course, prayers.

I went back to the doctor 8 weeks later. She was sweet, but was v amused that I delayed my visit in the hopes that I could shrink this thing. Apparently it wasn’t possible at all. She did the ultrasound, and basically almost passed out. Turns out, my cystadenoma had completely vanished… my tubes had completely healed… oh and my cancer marker had returned back to normal. She had never seen anything like this in her career!

It was an absolute turning point in my life, as you can imagine. I discovered that healing our bodies starts with healing our minds on a subconscious level – the mind-body-spirit connection is real AF.

If you’re going through anything like this or want to learn more, just shoot me a message!

Nawal El Masri; founder & storyteller of exhale.ae ( @exhale.ae ) & a mental health activist.
lately, I’ve been building the blocks of exhale, painting, writing, journaling, puzzling, spending time with family & getting lost in books. I believe the pandemic has definitely given us a perspective on how important it is to press PAUSE on our life every now and then to reassess milestones. My next milestone project would be phase two of exhale which I’ll keep confidential for now and hopefully getting my master’s degree in Applied Psychology in Fashion.

My inspiration is derived from many different artists, speakers, photographers, producers, philosophers, and writers. All who color the world with their perspective and allow each of us to see a different light.

Without art, life would be dull and there would be nothing to relate to in my perspective. I hope the world gets #LOUDER, I truly do, in their belief, value, and journey. I hope they always find the courage to share their story, their internal thoughts. we are never alone and we will only heal within each other, together. We are humans, we need humanity, we need each other’s stories and perceptions. and if you ever feel like you have nowhere to turn you are always welcome to vent to us in the exhaler community group on FB.
Above all let us learn to listen and to accept one another and our differences. We deserve to live and let live and only God has the power to judge. Love to all #remembertoexhale

Carla aka As Per Casper here..
A Syrian-Palestinian, androgynous singer-songwriter for the indie fusion band As Per Casper. Got back from Berlin just under 2 months ago and since then been finding inner peace during this manic state of the world by kick-starting a series of music projects including writing new music for my band, hosting a weekly open jam session where musicians can quench their thirst for music after it being restricted for months and lastly, I am in the final stages of launching an initiative involving some of the UAE’s phenomenal artists; a project by artists for artists so stay tuned!

I must say though that the most crucial project of all has been ‘self-development’. I took a decision earlier this year to see a psychotherapist. This decision came about after a dark thought, during a moment of anger, shook me to my core. It scared me. I felt at risk.

Through therapy I am learning to be kinder to myself; to stop judging myself, being angry at myself, strict with myself. I am learning to forgive myself, to step out of ‘victim mode’ and take accountability for the things I have done to myself and to others. I created a relationship with myself that had communication at the heart of it and I now understand more why Carla has been upset with me, causing her to rage ever so often. I am working on my co-dependency i.e. my need to rely on others emotionally and psychologically. I am learning to stand in my truth, to redefine what love and respect have meant for me and to find balance in all my relationships starting with the one with myself. I am learning to Be. And I am proud to say that I already see a shift to the better, in me and in turn in what/who surrounds me.

Salam. The given name to me is Nader. I’m interested in the truth. I love investing my time into creating content that would help, inspire, and motivate others. I invest 70% of my time on myself by my self, not necessarily reading or writing, just being alone and generally curious doing things on my own pace, it brings a special kind of peace to my soul. Many people ask me why don’t u become a Life Coach, why don’t you become a motivational speaker, why don’t u model, why don’t you sing, why don’t you do this and that. The truth of the matter is I refuse to label myself. I will become the best version of myself and I will dedicate the rest of my life striving to acquire more knowledge and wisdom. Always improving, altering, and evolving. Whatever that brings me to the table I will asses it and welcome it accordingly. I like to use my words to expose myself and other’s to their true selves and to inspire them to become better. I like to spread health awareness, but not only what we ingest in our bodies but also what we feed our minds. I also believe there’s many things we all should unlearn and relearn.

I’m Raeleen – practically a local to Dubai having been raised here for the past 20+ years! Yes I am that typical third culture kid; proudly South African and yet also lived in Dubai and Toronto as well. I have always been a creative soul and today that means a digital hybrid and creative director – does that make sense to you? Probably why I have a BFA in New Media & a professional diploma in Digital Marketing 🙃

Today, as a diverse and creative hybrid I am constantly pushing myself to learn and try new things that are never monotonous – yet instead stimulating and allow a free flow of creativity through all mediums.

I’ve been spending the last 6 months healing from a nasty accident, intense physiotherapy, focusing on mental health, also being redundant, committing to working out everyday and job hunting at the same time. It’s literally exhausting just writing that all out… yet I’ve learnt most about myself during this crazy period of life and I have so much to be grateful 

for. 

I’ve decided to freelance during this pandemic (trying to), add a few more digital certifications to the resume, work on personal projects (i.e photography for @studiobyrae, web design and tattoo illustration for a 20 stitch scar) and help charities out. DM me to get involved. The job market is the worst I have ever seen it being raised here. I choose not to stress over soul sucking oversaturated job hunting as a main focus of the day and instead a prescribed recovery plan of self care & healing and helping preferred humanitarian causes. 

My advice: have a savings account in your mid 20’s! That is what is financially tying me over. And help humanity wherever you can, even if that means saving that extra $ once every week or consuming less. Simply help – It’s intrinsic to our human nature :)

​Hi, I’m Aemen, a 22 yr old Marketer, figuring herself out.
For as long as I could remember, I’ve always been a creative individual who likes throwing herself into projects, I also recently discovered that I like writing poetry.

The last year of my life has been crazy but the most defining! I had to deal with the loss of my mother and figure out what grief is. I guess in a way her loss taught me a lot of lessons and gave me purpose.

Since COVID hit, it pushed back my process of getting a REAL job. I’ve been stuck in a constant cycle of internships & it’s about time I break free from it. I took this opportunity to do things I never had the time for before, selling my mom’s last assets so that everything can be donated to charity & running a private fundraiser to help a homeless man.

Currently, I’m trying to build upon my marketing skills so that employers don’t have a reason not to hire me.

I take inspiration from a lot of things being a marketer it’s mainly from brands, content creators & my friends. Here are some to list a few: @twinklestanly, @conceivedinthemind @omarghanem77 @tashyflashy @khalidalameri @waleedshah @amir.deleon

Life is short, pretty unexpected too sometimes so value your loved ones, chase your dreams, and make the most of life while we’re still alive.

As for me, I want people to know that I am worthy of a real job, I have the fire in me and I won’t let you down.

​My name is Ayham, I also go by A’Y. I’m a co-founder of hrmny creative agency and music producer. I’ve spent the last few months working/thinking on how to create new ways to do business in the new world we are living in. I’ve realized that even though we were hit by a pandemic. Nothing has really changed. The approach is still the same. Execute as many ideas as possible. See what sticks. Repeat. The execution is different, but the mindset is the same. So in the spirit of reinvention and execution, I’ve launched a music producer product-focused division within hrmny called hrmny + Lab.

While I appreciate art and the art world. I tend to draw inspiration from entrepreneurial thinking artists. So people like @big_hass, yourself (@waleedshah), and @m_bailouni inspire me. Cause I love the consistency of execution, not just the art. And as far as the art world. I believe that it will do what it always did. Reinvent itself.

Do not treat this pandemic like it changed the world. Our world was changed when the internet arrived. The fact that we still enjoy the same level of reach means that nothing has changed. Again just the execution.

My name is Nervana Noweir I’m an Egyptian actress, model, presenter and architect.

Acting has always been my dream since I was a child but I thought it was hard to achieve. I always thought that I’m not good enough but attending Marwa Gabriel and Khaled Galal workshops changed all that I believed before. It is very hard to express those feelings as I believe that knowing yourself is everyone’s biggest challenge. Everyone has a talent that if he tries to pursue it. It will let him shine no matter how hard or how far it is. “Find what you love and let it kill you.”

In the past few weeks and after this pandemic I decided to take advantage of everything happening around. Although it wasn’t easy, I decided to be positive and to deliver this positivity to my family and friends. I spent more time with my husband and son and got back to reading and painting. I also started making videos to practice on my acting especially that I think that we were being distracted with unuseful things. So I decided to list my priorities and put a plan for my life and give my family and my career all of my time and energy.

This year I was lucky by participating in a series called “Kuna Ams” which is a drama series that highlights various social and cultural stories. Being my first work during Ramadan season, it was a remarkable milestone in my career.

Finally what I believe that we all should do this period is to try to find the beauty within everything and share love, kindness, support, and positivity to all people around. Trust yourself and believe in your dream.

Hey, I’m Reshma (atleasts that’s one name my parents stuck with after changing it three times till I was 4 years old lol it’s a funny story).
Introducing myself here isn’t easy nor can I relate to one version of my self completely to talk about.
Since I’m super thrilled to have been part of ‘Mowjood’, Thought I’ll just freestyle my way through this and see where it goes :)

For a while now, I’ve been focused inwards, there is this entire universe inside of me that I discovered lol (almost like an episode of Rick and Morty). It’s beautiful and I’m loving it. Stripping myself with the unconditional truth of my being, every moment I’m living and aligning my thought patterns to match with the present has kept me fascinated about life (basically I don’t overthink and cluster my brain with silly stuff I don’t have a control over). The more I seek the more I discover and more and more I love.
In this moment, I realize how far I’ve come and how much more I have left to learn. Yes yes, I too am fighting silent battles due to this situation we are all in but it didn’t change waking up each morning feeling ‘Whole’. Grateful for being alive, who I am, what I’ve been through, everything I still have and everyone I surround myself with. I’m not hard on myself anymore, I allow myself to ‘be’ (by cracking myself up mostly). I grow each day. At least I think I do lol.

I project manage events across the UAE which has pretty much kept me running around like a headless chicken on tip toes till the events world got effected by the pandemic. Although, I’m very impressed by how quickly events adapted to being virtual. Initially, I too was involved in creating virtual event experiences and my creativity was bang on, it was all new. I remember having Zoom meetings conceptualizing with the rest of the team and every single one had insane creative ideas and possibilities of executing these events, which we did eventually. My point is, we will always figure it out and I’m sure the events world will pick up soon and soon I’ll be headless again.

What would I like to tell the World? Hmm.. I’m sure my message to the world would change constantly but hey change is constant and inevitable. Maybe this is my message, to have an open heart and an open mind as we move on <3

My name is Tumi, I’m a fashion photographer, DJ & content creator based in Dubai and Muscat. I’ve been spending the last few weeks filming different kinds of video content to see what kind of YouTube channel I should start (I also got myself acquainted with tiktok recently)

The pandemic has forced us to take matters into our own hands, and no longer wait to be reached out to. I’m just creating content i like & people who follow me vibe with, and that interests brands to want to work with me simply because I’m releasing content that looks like something they would’ve wanted to be a part of.

My latest project that hasn’t come alive yet, is a comedic cooking show where I pose as one of my many split personalities, an African aunty.

I’m currently drawing inspiration from my best friend @drankin_leen who started upcycling clothes, which is basically taking pieces and reworking them to look completely different. I love the idea of transforming old to new.

I think the art world will be slapped into reality. Not from the creators side, but more so from the corporate side. I think people are uniting against not being compensated fairly, and that this might be the time for that change to actually happen.

I wanna tell the world that.. it is what it is, just make the most out of it.

My name is Olivia. I’m a makeup artist and a color lover. been doing makeup for almost 7 years and I find something so soothing and comforting about picking up my brush and painting faces. Makeup to me is way more than a job I do it’s my therapy in life and my comfort zone. My inspiration comes from nature and our planet I think it’s extraordinary how the best color combination and shapes you find in nature.

It has been a very difficult time during the pandemic, I started to suffer from anxiety and panic attacks as the number of cases kept going up. Reality hit me as I had different plans in mind for this year but I altered and decided to take advantage of the situation while staying at home during the lockdown to focus more on filming makeup tutorials and using this time to practice makeup and get outside of the box with colors.

We live in a world full of plastic surgeries and major face and body transformation that’s why it brings me happiness and satisfaction when I get to enhance the natural beauty of someone with few brush strokes which leads to boosting their confidence.

One of my main role models in the region is @hudabeaty, her success and journey fuel me to have my own brand one day. I also appreciate how she always thinks of the makeup community and finds ways to give a supporting hand to the starters.

Currently, I’m working on how to expand myself beyond makeup and get into the beauty world more through learning how to do hair and photography to capture the essence of my work.

I’m Pakinam. I’m a graphic designer (supposedly). I haven’t been doing much and I’m really enjoying it because life is hectic and when this is all over we’re gonna have to work twice as hard to recover from COVID. I just graduated so my life is confusing now anyway. The virus just made it confusing for one more reason. I’m trying to be part of creative projects so I don’t lose the creative flow I had pre-corona, it’s hard and a little depressing but it is what it is.

I’m inspired by so many artists and creatives here but right now I think everyone’s trying to figure their own shit out so I’m trying to be inspired by me before anything. Aside from myself, my boyfriend is something consistently inspiring in my life.

It’s important right now for creatives to be creative. No matter what, the art world will always be okay, it can get controversial or weird or depressing but people will always need art & especially now because people need to get things out of their system and you can’t really complain to someone because we’re all in the same shit right now. So… create.

Honestly, we all just need to be nicer (me included). People can be so awful and it’s just getting old. Hopefully this pandemic makes people realize that we need to treat the world with respect and our selves with more love. We also need to be more forgiving which I guess comes hand in hand.

My name is Fafa, I am an artist based in Abu Dhabi. These past few weeks I have been focusing on my mental and physical health by cooking and keeping active. I’ve written some music but not a whole lot and I’m okay with that.

My strategy post-pandemic is to take more opportunities and stop being scared of saying yes. I’ve learned that life really is short and I’ve got to make the most of it.
My latest project is about telling the ones you love you love them and meaning it. If we are all there for each other there we can come out stronger and happier! Tell your loved one what someone means to you and you will never live in regret wondering if they knew when it’s too late.

Regional artists I draw inspiration from are my good friends @emmacottermusic, @sachikosawah & @ibbyvk. Their art and hard work towards their goals are inspiring and I am thankful to be their friend and watch them grow.

I think people will appreciate the arts even more as it is becoming clear that it is essential. I may be totally off or dramatic but it’s like when the Black Plague happened and the Renaissance period started and creativity was overflowing and so many great artistic endeavors made an impact for the ages.
I would like to tell the world that this will pass. It’s hard on all of us but it will pass and we will be even greater than ever

​I’m Adnan. I scream for @SvengaliMusic and make videos for @ctgpro. When the lockdown happened I started a live video podcast called Unmuted – a show about inspiration, motivation, and all things creative.

The idea was to have a conversation with musicians, actors, photographers, creatives in general about their journey so far.

I’ve always been a fan of all things “local” when it comes to art and music and doing the podcast with regional artists honestly just amplified that. The amount of insanely inspirational dudes and dudettes in, from and around the Middle East still blows my mind.

So just have conversations, connect with people and support your local – also, if you’re weird or want to get spacey with me for an hour or two, hit me up and come on the show @unmutedshow

​Hey My Name is Maila aka DJLIUTIK

These few weeks have been very successful and creative for me. I’ve been having a couple of live shows on social media platforms and working on my new mixes. Plus I had a few shoots with my creative friends.

My strategy has never been based on analysis. I believe in energy and vibe, I do what I want and when I want unless there is a brand deal and they want specific timings and dates.

I am the official DJ for an artist called @freektv We had an amazing show with flash entertainment for Eid celebration, and just 2 weeks ago I had a show for @MDLBeast that was a fun and amazing experience. Shout out to them for being so professional and very easy and cool to work with.

My inspiration comes from different people and most of the time we all work together because we just come up with ideas on spot and go for it, but the 2 special people that I draw inspiration from are @freektv and @imasea

The art industry always strong and now it’s stronger than ever, I saw that during this rough time it brought the greatest artists out of people

Don’t stop living your life just because we facing some obstacles. Better time will come and we will all make silly jokes about it. On a bright side, the world finally stopped for a second to observe and reflect. Peace and love 🙏🏽❤️

I’m a creative at heart with a passion for storytelling in different mediums. Most of my days in the past couple months are usually spent with my team @createproductiondxb on zoom, they are the driving force for my creativity and business, but during this past few weeks, it’s been nice to slowly see people come back to an augmented version of our old Normal that’ll be a work in progress I’m sure & as it should be allowing us to reimagine the future.

During the lockdown period, I’ve been inspired to create through music, my personal projects have been mainly a reflection of journeys that represent various states of being. I’ve been releasing a new track every month on SoundCloud and Spotify for those who are curious, check out “Dia Hassan” on those platforms.

I’d love to see a growth of collaboration in the art scene, as creators we’ve been forced to reimagine our offerings to the world, although some might argue it’s non-essential but life without art in its various forms isn’t worth living in my opinion. I see great opportunities in creating experiential content through things like augmented reality that would allow us to create a new future for events and content interactivity. It’s what we’ve been investing time building with my team, and it’s inspiring to see the potential in that space.

In closing my message to the world would be to collaborate and lean on value and creativity to design our new future.

​I’m Layla Kardan, a performer, singer/songwriter – feminine and fierce and hungry for life. The pandemic was initially so stifling and hard on me. I felt like a caged bird. Up until late Feb of this year, I was traveling and performing for 6months non-stop, which was amazing as I was riding the wave I had worked so hard for. And then it all came crashing down. At the start I struggled, I went on an emotional rollercoaster of questioning everything and trying to reconnect with myself. I quickly pulled myself back up and poured everything – the good and bad emotions from personal experiences and the weight of the world – into my new EP which is called Abscission – the process of natural detachment of dead parts of a plant, which is relevant to where I am in life – detaching from things that don’t serve me. I spent time recording and finishing the songs, and preparing the assets for the EP, which is due to drop next month. My business has been majorly affected so I am in the process of working out what’s coming next, but I’ve started to put my creative energies into creative directing and production for clients – I’ve really enjoyed it. I’m inspired by lots of talents in the region…I really love what @freektv and @prekairo are doing and I’m always inspired by @mohflowmusic and @aytheproducer. @shebanimusic and @listentomichele are creating beautifully raw and feminine music, and I love @fafa.music’s fire and energy. @ghaliaaofficial is the whole package with her instrumental and production skills and her voice makes me melt. @jaymiedeville is putting out non stop fire tracks. There’s way too many to mention – I have only love and respect for everyone out here trying to realize their dreams through the arts. The art world and artists have suffered a lot due to the pandemic. Artists are sensitive souls so it’s going to affect a lot of people and some won’t be able to sustain and keep going sadly. On one hand, it’s good as the audience have had more time to research music and not listen to what they’re fed through the radio. I pray there’s some normalcy soon. I’d like to tell the world to be kinder to one another, kinder to themselves and also kinder to the Earth. We’re enduring hard times and only love, tolerance, and hope will get us through 🙏🏽♥️

I am Olena Kolibaba – musician, professional violinist, composer and artist who’s based in Dubai & belongs to the world.

My journey in music started when I was a 6 y.o kid and since then it plays one of the major roles in my life.

Skipping the part about the hard times we all had in 2020, apparently I can not be more grateful realising how many productive results and new amazing experiences this pandemic brought to me!
I am sincerely so much grateful for all the tough decisions I had to make. After all it gave me a chance to focus on creating and composing, to make a few great collaborations, to discover myself as a graffiti artist and even to travel a little more than previous years (which sounds quite surreal tho 😅)

Moreover I believe this pandemic was there to give each of us a place of inner peace where everyone could find himself being “original”, out of social influences that take places in our lives every single second, and to break some of the imposed rules we’ve put ourselves into.

For the last few years it was a racing game, in which I was performing nonstop and taking all the possible gigs, making the main focus on performing, earning and putting my first interests as a creating musician aside.
So the quarantine helped me to rediscover my preferences in creating, and it turned out into a wave of recordings. Starting from mid November I will release a cycle of my original tracks.

There are a lot of amazing, talented and creative artists and musicians based in Dubai, and that’s why it is inspiring to live and create within this environment. From the people who I personally know and support from the bottom of my heart I would like to mention spoken word poet @alysiaknowles , singer/ songwriter @IbbyVK, singer/songwriter @listentomichele , oud player, composer and singer @hosny.oud .

And finally I want to believe and really looking forward to some positive changes this pandemic brought to each of us. I hope it was productive period for artists and everyone found a source of inspiration, and after all I really hope we all can become at least a little less self-centred, more attentive and caring towards each other, more grateful and somehow more “real” in all senses.

My name is Aya, a proud Egyptian that has been living in Dubai for over 5 years now! Singing is my passion; it makes me feel what cannot be put into words easily. It makes me feel alive, happy, complete, and connected with my soul and myself.

In addition to meditating, exercising at home, lots and lots of reading; singing accompanied me throughout the unfortunate COVID pandemic period, as I believe that Music has healing powers, it is a solution to almost every problem I come across in life. The past pandemic made me reflect on myself and my decisions in life, it made me realize how easily everything can change and how short our lives are, and I decided to make the most out of it by pursuing my dreams and passion rather than wait for the right opportunity to show at my doorstep. I am currently enjoying the great success of my latest single “El gaw hadi”. it takes us back to the origins and purity of love, the indescribable feeling at the presence of our loved one, and the way we fly away while we listen to each other.

Living and surviving the pandemic I realized that art (especially music) is indefinite, it has been around since ever and will remain forever. It is the sole companion that surrounds us through good and bad times, through happiness and sadness, through celebrations and unfortunate times.

In the end, I would like to thank everyone who supported and believed in me. Keep smiling, keep trying and exploring, do not fear failure but rather fear not trying.

An architect by profession (B.Arch, MAMD), but a writer and teacher at heart. Ever since I was old enough to express my imagination (and was introduced to the work of Neil Gaiman), I have been writing stories. A firm believer that architecture and storytelling are correlated, I founded Wrichitects. So.. what is Wrichitects? Wrichitects, or Writing for Architects, is an educational platform that provides regular writing workshops to help architects and designers improve their creative writing skills. Everyone has the ability to write, they just need a little push. Writing has several wonderful therapeutic notions that can even help your designs. So why not give it a try?

Holed up with my husband and tiny cat (always adopt, never buy), we held online debates with the rest of the world during the pandemic and grew accustomed to the digital world. People were scared to spend money, but people weren’t scared to speak and voice their desire, fears, and frustrations. I listened, gave a couple of online workshops, and ended up growing my network. I missed the one-on-one writing sessions, but I was able to reach many people around the world. This inspired me to work on my next major project .. which is to design a series of online workshops that can help architects and designers become bulletproof writers, and eventually write their own novels if they wanted to!

This pandemic has honestly shown me how much we can lose in so little time… empires.. businesses… and even people. I lost a lot of love who I looked up to in the past few months, but I am so happy that I took advantage of every single minute I had when they were in my life. Never take people for granted, because your time together is limited.

Moving forward, I’d say plan but don’t obsess, find a way to shift your business to meet this everchanging world, work hard, smile at others, and spend time with your loved ones. And eat that damn carrot cake, @khaldaeljack

​It’s difficult to remember who I was before June 14th, 2020. If we really need labels I was a graphic designer, foodie, baker, group fitness enthusiast and all around creative/renaissance woman. That all took a back seat when I was diagnosed with a stage1 rare ovarian cancer, post an emergency surgery to remove a 16cm cyst that caused me so much pain I couldn’t walk, not to mention losing an ovary in the process. I won’t go into all the details-you can read about it on my page, but suffice it to say it brought my world to a standstill. The pandemic seemed so insignificant now. Life went from working on some amazing brands & getting engaged to spending 8 hours/day in a hospital for 26 sessions of chemo over 3 months. It stripped me of my identity and robbed me of a year of major milestones. Life altering decisions had to be made and quickly, leaving me in bad shape.

Physically, it was tough. Mentally it was hell. I decided to share my entire journey online, posting on my stories daily. I felt I could do a few things: help/prevent someone from going through the same thing & it would also be my source of talking through it all – a kind of journal. The response is still mind blowing to me. I can’t count how many women messaged me saying they were going to get checked because of my posts. Women who ended up catching growths before they became malignant. Women who had been through the same thing offering support or sending care packages. When this first started I stumbled onto a few accounts like @luzieloo & @thecancerpatient where I found humour, insights, and strength in their stories. It seemed surreal that I could have made the same difference in other people’s lives. The power of social media can be truly amazing in these situations.

It’s been a month since my last chemo session. Having had tunnel vision for 5 months, I didn’t know what to do with myself. Today I’m starting to remember what it’s like to live again. Art is coming back into my life in various forms – baking, painting, writing. 2020 may be the worst year for many reasons, but damn it feels good to be alive again.

I’m Gemma. I’m British and have lived in Dubai for 7 years. I am (was?) a fashion editor and stylist, but I’ve spent the last few months trying to figure out what I’m truly passionate about and how I can start a business. It’s time to get out of my comfort zone.

The pandemic has given me so much time to think, but whatever I do next, I want to make a difference. Whether it’s to people, or to the environment. I believe the fashion world won’t be the same again, but for the better. Fashion needed to be addressed. But it’s exciting to see brands taking a new direction.

The Middle East has such a huge pool of talents, I’ve seen it grow tremendously over the years. But what I love most is how much we all support each other. Magazines and brands are giving new talents the opportunities, and that’s essentially how I started my career at such a young age. I’ll always be thankful for that.

My latest project has been project ‘me’. Focusing on my fitness, health, and mental wellbeing. If I’ve learned anything in the last few months, it’s that we have to learn to ride the wave. My mum once told me “it’s not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning how to dance in the rain”.

Hi! My name is Shatha (Sha~tha – not Shaza, or Shada, or Saja…and the list goes on). A dietician by degree, a hotelier by profession.

I was born and raised in Jordan before moving to AUB Beirut to study Nutrition and Dietetics. An MBA came shortly afterwards. After graduation I literally had to pack 4 years of my life in boxes. That was the beginning … keep reading.

The beginning of a story I am sure a lot of you have been or are going through, which is not spoken about as much these days – anxiety disorders.

We live in a world where a man who cries is considered to be weak; where a woman with tattoos is too “wild”, and whoever visits a psychiatrist is “crazy”. We are all boxed by so many “no’s” and “cannots” which feed into the flame of our anxieties and depressions.

Mental health is a fundamental aspect of our well-being and its stigma needs to be destroyed. It is OK to break down, it is OK to seek professional help, it is OK to go through lows because you know what, it is exactly those lows that taught me to look for the light at the end of the tunnel. And is I can’t see that light, I learn how to be one.

Be a light that cuts through your fears, your struggles and agony. Be someone’s light .. make damn sure you start with yourself.

​Hello guys my name is Alba Fernández, I am an international Spanish curve model, entrepreneur, and advocate for self-acceptance and healthy living.
I am coming to Dubai back and forth during the season since 2017 but this situation changed the world and my plans. I extended my staying.
Being more at home, spending more time with myself, looking at the world from a different point of view, and getting deep inside myself are things that I’ve been doing during quarantine. And you know what? I am taking it easy, day by day. I realized that my goals and my vision are still the same but the way of reaching them could be different.

It doesn’t matter anymore where you live, the physical place, and we are more than ever millennials living in an online era.
Outside of modeling, I am working in a lifestyle project focus on healthy living and destinations and I believe online is the best way to make it happen. It doesn’t matter what you do, do it online.

I am happy to stay here and to be part of the model industry in the Middle East especially being a curve woman as I feel myself identify with the Arab women and I hope they will see on me the Spanish version of themselves.

I really love the Arab culture, there are many things to learn. I recently discovered @zaidfarouki, @arwaalbanawi, and @WaleedShah, they are really talented and they really inspired me.

I would like to contribute to the Middle East community being a curve model and representing the natural woman figure. We live in the inclusivity era, where being healthy is totally compatible with having curves. Your body your rules!

​Born on the 20th of August, Jindi began his venture into music by performing in various live venues across the UAE. The sudanese singer/ songwriter eventually formed “The J- tones” in 2014 who were mainly influenced by the sounds of 70’s funk/soul, and Motown music. Jindi has a distinct persona in the local music scene as he regularly incorporates this influence into his live performances, songwriting and production. He released his debut single “By your Side” in 2018 which was well received in the region and was often rotated on many local radio stations. This was followed by his second single “Running on my mind” – which was later included in his debut EP “1995”, released on October, 2019.

​The second track off of “1995” is a Pop/Funk groove called “Dance Floor”. Originally released as a single, this track marks Jindi’s big break as it has found its way to the top 10 tracks on iTunes MENA, peaking at #2. Jindi is currently getting ready for his upcoming single release “Just A Dream” which is going to be available on all streaming platforms May 29th.
​
“Just A Dream” breaks down a romantic love story, the tale goes back to June of 2019 , When Jindi had a totally different idea for the song , when had written the track for the first time and realized there was something missing , everything took a different turn then .This song shows a variety in the singer’s catalogue as it incorporates a latin flavor that will get you up on your feet.

On a final note, so many creatives around the world are getting affected by what’s going on , but always keep in mind that your art can change someone’s mood , lift their spirits up. Use this as a tool to inspire other’s. That’s just a reminder of how crucial the art scene is and how it can impact others. Things will get better soon, keep on doing what you love.

Hey guys! My name is Abdulrahman but you can simply call me Abdul. I create video content highlighting Abu Dhabi and its people (@adaywithabdul). The last couple of months have put me in a bit of a rut to be completely honest. I derive my energy from exploring new places and meeting up with friends and family. Once it was all taken away, I’ve struggled to channel it through a creative outlet but I think I’m almost there mentally. I think the pandemic offers an opportunity to be creative about content and I’m exploring that at the moment. Anyhow, this is a great opportunity for local artists to shine as people find themselves looking around within their networks to connect. Everyone has a chance to showcase what they have to offer and so an uptick in creativity is bound to happen. So go on, try picking up a skill or two if you’re able to. Good luck!

1. Introduce yourself
Im SACHII, an Emirati/Filipino singer and songwriter. My mom says that I could sing before I could talk from what she remembers. I just remember always having a strong passion for the arts, since I was a child I always jumped at any opportunity related to it from music, acting, dancing, or modeling.

2. How have you been spending the last few weeks?
Playing video games and having group video calls with friends have been keeping me sane. I’ve also been singing and writing a lot of new material!

3. How have you changed your strategy post-pandemic?
I honestly haven’t changed much because I’m the type of artist that patiently waits for lyrics or beats to hit me. I always found it difficult to sit down and try to write, I want it to all come and flow naturally. It has been really hard to find inspiration though so I guess Ive been listening to music and watching movies more studiously than before to get inspiration.

4. What’s your latest project about?
Something never done before, a broken heart.

5. Who are the regional artists you draw inspiration from?
I can’t decide as I would honestly say all of them! Some that do come to mind are @andymusicproducer @fafa.music @ibbyvk @musicbyodd @aesthetictide26 Its really hard for me to pick because I think every artist in our region is truly inspiring since it’s definitely a challenge to pursue a passion in the arts in our region.

6. What do you think will happen to the art world?
I’m extremely excited to see all types of art that were made during COVID. I think we’re going to have a new age, the quaranaissance if you will like I wonder if all the art made during quarantine will all have a similar feel and you’d be able to tell that it was probably made during quarantine 2020.

7. What would you like to tell the world?
I hope that everyone’s trying their best to keep their spirits up, through these tough times. Since that is what’s going to help us be stronger than ever before once all this blows over. Oh and my favorite saying that I believe cant get stressed enough which is if you have nothing nice to say then say nothing!

I’m a designer and photographer raised and based in Dubai. I recently took the step to start my own agency, ONEPOINTSIX. I’ve spent the last few weeks in quarantine, Gaming, doing whatever work I need to do, and painting whenever possible.

My strategy was “see how it goes, one step at a time” before the pandemic and everything that’s happened. but obviously that’s changed. I’ll begin by making moves with other creatives, reaching out to businesses that struggled, and offer my services for less and see where I can help, the same goes for my fellow creatives as well. Being of service is my primary purpose in these times.

My latest project is about mental illness, I’ve yet to officially release the work as its been in production for a while.

The regional artists that really inspire me are Ibrahim Ahmed (Egypt) and Sadik Alfraji (Iraq). I think there will be a massive boom in content creation once artists are able to go back out there and draw inspiration from the world, we’ve all had some kind of trauma experiencing what we’ve experienced and we creatives will be able to process that into beautiful work once we get the chance.

Hola!!!! I am Caroll….

I’m a young, talented & ambitious singer & DJ that 3 years ago, took a leap of faith & travelled to this distant land in the sand, that I, for now, call home….

I am also an enthusiast, happy & positive person that loves life to the full.I have always taken calculated risks to achieve my dreams, ambitions & goals & will continue doing so. My drive, skills & passion is second to none & I truly trust & believe that there is nothing I can’t achieve or overcome….

Having said that & taking into account what is happening in the world over last couple of months & weeks, it has highlighted to me personally, how vulnerable we are. Plans are not always aligned the way we want them to be & fate will always move us & myself in another direction & that after all is said & done that plans are just plans….

We have to manage & endure the changes in our lives, the things that have happened in 2020, wether it’s positive or negative & this is why I am confident in moving forward along this ever changing path because I have & will continue to grow as person, friend , woman & fellow human being….

I look forward to seeing what comes next…..

When asked to introduce myself, I always find myself wondering, “where do I even begin.” People usually begin by stating how old they are, where they’re from, and what they do, now this is where it gets interesting for me. Age is something I never like to disclose when getting to know people, especially in the industry I work in because there is always that notion that comes with it. “oh my god! You’re still so young,” “so much to learn,” “so many things to see,” you know the rest.

Being born in the UAE to Syrian parents, mom and dad always made sure that I visited Syria every year to ensure that I have that “feeling of home” engrained within me… it was never like that. Growing up here, I never felt like I belonged either; however, I did meet the people that made it feel as close to “home” as it could get.

I’m a filmmaker. I love telling stories… I have ever since I held the camera for the first time. I learned to express my deepest emotions through this art, helping me better understand myself in the process. The pandemic truly hit hard for me as I had to leave Dubai and move back in with my parents, which I am truly thankful I had them to fall back on; however, it put a dent on my creative abilities and motivation.

I met the love of my life during the lockdown, and this person inspired me to get off my ass and do something I loved. I threw my money together and bought my equipment, then went on to film things I found inspiring and beautiful. I’m in the middle of working on a few short films that I can’t wait to show the world… (that and trying to pay the rent tbh). I want to tell the world that as unpredictable as the industry is at this time, creating something that brings you joy will ultimately help you make a name for yourself in this world.

I am Nairouz Wadidi, a beautiful mind, body and soul.

I believe in myself and in human power. I am always positive and passionate about inspiring and supporting others to be the best version of themselves.

For me It has always been a dream to come and live in the UAE. Years ago, I took the decision to pursue this dream. I started from scratch when I came here and transformed my fears into a “no matter what” mentality.

I am grateful for all the remarkable achievements I met thus far. Now, my dreams continue to become bigger and bigger. More importantly, I am also ultimately grateful for my failures which only make me stronger and even closer to being unbreakable. Putting it simply, failure for me is a learning process and a step closer to success.

Life teaches me to always start with myself and take responsibility for my choices as the world will change around me only when I change what is inside me.

I always try to develop myself, use my strength and capabilities to achieve my goals while making sure I carry my belief in Allah along the way.

I believe that “2020” happens for me not to me. It changes me for the better, allows me to finally pause the race and re-evaluate my life, work passionately towards my dreams, plan well for the future and develop a better version of myself. So; I started my Insta LiveTalks sessions to inspire people during this time, working on my business while enjoying so many remarkable achievements at my day Job.

2020 must happen for me so I can reach this significant stage of health, wealth & happiness.

Always look into the positive side of any situation, try to find out the wisdom behind it, digest the message and accept it. Start with yourself, take responsibility of your life and believe in yourself.

“You can do anything you want; you just need to believe”

Much love.

1. Introduce yourself
MY name’s Esraa Aboushahin. I identify mostly as an animal and nature lover. Water is my element, which to me has always symbolized the power of healing, cleansing, and growth. I want to get to the stage where I can connect to water through all my senses; the ones who already have lived so differently and I do mean, beautifully. Even the process of this becoming is enchanting, I feel more empowered and myself by it day by day. My dog’s a water creature too; we love the mountains but we settle by the water.

2. How have you been spending the last few weeks?
Becoming stronger, however I can. My mental and emotional state fluctuated regularly, so I worked with my physical state first which helped steer a lot of my decisions to self-growth and doing the work, which is what really matters.

3. How have you changed your strategy post-pandemic?
I’ve started keeping a record of what I do every day, not in too much detail, but this inspires me to keep doing. Maintaining a practice is usually the most challenging part of any process. This way I give more integrity to my decisions, progress, and time- it shows me an overview of me – and I love looking back at it.

4. What’s your latest project about?
I’m starting a creative team; together we’ll be a combined force of truth-seekers and speakers. Hit me up, let me hear your voice (figuratively)

5. Who are the regional artists you draw inspiration from?
I’m particularly inspired at the moment by people who are starting over, not because they have to but because they’ve compelled themselves to. A leading example of this is Ahmedeldin (@ahmedeldin) and my sister Fida (@fidz_and_all)

6. What do you think will happen to the art world?
It wouldn’t be considered Art if it was predictable, and thank God for that!

7. What would you like to tell the world?
Thoughts to myself which I’m happy to share with others and hopefully it can resonate:
Do you get out of your comfort zone enough?
I think once you do, you’ll find your acceptance to love there
You’ll find more of what you want there too
It’s where the magic happens

1. Introduce yourself
I am this really tall guy who has his camera 24/7, love taking photos and making video and creating visual content, started taking photos at the age of 15 but age is just a number

2. How have you been spending the last few weeks?
Most of my work is event photography and videography and because of Covid-19, there are no more events so I had to stay ready and not get rusty. So I started re-editing old photos and videos to refine my skills

3. How have you changed your strategy post-pandemic?
I am trying to transfer most of my work to be appropriate to the current conditions and I may try to be able to adhere to social separation and reconciliation between my work and my university studies

4. What’s your latest project about?
I started a YouTube channel where I am planning to make tutorials and help others learn some stuff that I needed at the beginning of my journey in photography

5. Who are the regional artists you draw inspiration from?
To me, earth without art is EH so I am inspired by the EARTH and the beauty that surrounds us
And I gained a lot of support from my parents and friends @laith_me @n1yah

6. What do you think will happen to the art world?
Art lives with the artist, and as long as we exist, art will not disappear, but we will find a way to reshape it to suit our reality and what is around us.

7. What would you like to tell the world?
I know that we are in difficult times, but we must fight this situation and keep one hand until we overcome everything that stands in the way of our creativity.

I’m Altamash Urooj. I’m half Venezuelan & half Pakistani, and though I have called Dubai home for over 16 years, I am very much a world citizen at heart. I’m a rare blend of Latin chill and Karachi streetsmart. However, my identity does not lie in my genetics, my passports or the languages I speak. I am a hundred percent photographer, and my eyes feel most at home behind a lens, creating images on a screen or on paper.

“I am large. I contain multitudes”. My days consist of me walking the thin line between fine art and commercial photography; From luxury assignments at five-star hotels to barebones fine art photography in my studio or shooting fashion portraiture in medium format film. One day my muse is a model, the next day it’s the lines and shapes of interiors, the third I’m literally taking photos of photographs.

I’ve been a lone wolf during the pandemic. I used the time to focus on self growth,exploring knowledge of one’s self. I’ve taken the time to reach out and be there for family and friends who need me. The urge to connect has never been greater. I have developed photo workshops tailored to this new world we have found ourselves in. I have also been working on fine art photo projects & series, a bit of my soul etched on each image. I am currently deep into creating my first fine art photo book. At first glance, it’s about my cat, but it’s really a time-lapse of grief and the human capacity for love and deep pain.

I think the art and photo world is rapidly changing and I have found my sanctuary in the old ways of analog photography. Working mechanical cameras instead of digital, the weight of film satisfies my love for grunge, grain, and texture-where each moment and breath counts. Besides my passion for self-expression I’ve also come to realize one of my callings is to guide and teach others to create as well. My biggest realization during the pandemic is concluding that my purpose is to be of service, and I want to help and nurture the artists and photographers that lie, sometimes hidden, within everyone.

My 2020 motto is: Consume less, create more.

Bits and pieces; My world is made of bits and pieces.

I find myself between writing another page in my book, scribbling a thought out or tip-toeing to every beat in and around me. I like to see myself as an art-enthusiast. In other words, I’m an artist, designer, writer, illustrator and dancer. Wherever there is art, you’ll find me.

I see art and inspiration everywhere. Everyone I meet is a walking piece of art. Recently, I’ve found myself having a lot of conversations in my head that led me straight to my newest project, highlighting and raising awareness for mental disorders. I published the first one in my virtual book @booknumber7 and there are more to come.

The human brain is a beautiful equation that has no constant and always varies. Flow with it, and let’s all try not to force it.

Here to spread self-love and acceptance.

Love & Light,
Yasmine ElAshry
*Proud Mediterranean Girl

I’m a 25-year-old Dubai-based creative, working to promote sustainable fashion within the region. As the founder of a regional streetwear brand, SOUND.ON, I’ve been working on creating a 100% sustainable line over these past few weeks that are truly one-of-a-kind and good for the environment. Using vintage, recycled, pre-loved, and deadstock fabric, these upcycled designs are my way of showing everyone that sustainable fashion doesn’t have to be so limited. I get to tap into my creativity while at home working on these handmade upcycled pieces by transforming these old fabrics into something contemporary yet informative. What I’m doing relates to the current culture at the moment, because the world is moving towards adopting a more sustainable and conscious lifestyle that’s environmentally friendly. I hope my work inspires others to be more aware when consuming! I’d love it if i inspired some to start looking at sustainable fashion differently and begin upcycling their own projects :)

I am half Slovakian half Palestinian working in the entertainment industry and currently stuck on a quarantine break in Dubai where I used to be based.
The last two years I spent in Beirut falling in love with the beautiful chaos, which became my third home but revolution made me move back to UAE.

The life of a freelancer is very unpredictable so I got used to “how to deal with my self” (not gonna lie, there were few undoable moments)
Self-imporvement is a never-ending project so I have fun observing my behavior

“Making money spend money” was my life motto so the post-pandemic strategy would be “Make money save money ” let’s start with that …🙃

I am driven by questioning everything I come in to contact with, which led me to the realization of the never-ending gaps in the education system.

My latest project is a movement program for kids mainly focused on refugee camps where I am connecting movement with different self-discovery exercises. Kids will learn about who they truly are as individuals and how to deal with and control their bodies through the creative process.

If there is someone I look up to its @simadancecompany. It is an incredible community which brought lots of heavy dance art to Dubai, the way they are looking at the world and how they are expressing their vision is a big inspiration and being able to be part of the team and having the community feeling of art is rare

If I can share something with people which read this is to remember those times you are going through, what do you feel and what’s happening inside your head and soul so you can source from it any time because we can’t even understand yet what impact this will have on our lives in future. So take it as inspiration

Hey, I am Samreen Kazi. I am a 22yr old fresh fashion graduate straight into a pandemic.

I have spent the last couple weeks wrapping up uni and now I guess the incoherent look out into the black hole that is job hunting or freelance based work during this time and occasionally skateboarding to get a break from the whole situation in general.

I try to keep myself occupied at the most and realistically I can only try my best but the rest is beyond my control even though it’s been a hard couple months being home but I also learned to channel and pour all this into my artwork and have those creative juices running into illustrations and digital paintings.

My last project was my capstone graduation collection called “oil spill” along with some CAD-based artwork. It was inspired by the term oil Spill, oil slick or oil spillage in combination with modern or Urban ready to wear cuts. In the collection, I aimed to represent the feel of oil spillage and oil spotting using dual-tone reflective fabrics in combination with mesh and modern cuts that are very cosmopolitan of which almost half of the work was more towards the DIY side as universities decided to close their physical campuses due to the pandemic.

The regional artists I look up to and draw inspiration from are first, @Shoestova. I think she really knows how to translate and brand stories into imagery and content. Another person is Zahra. Most of Dubai knows her as @kunoi_chi. I think her work is amazing and really out of the box and transformative.

I think the art world will flourish after this whole situation is over as people are channeling all the emotions and state of mind either to create an escape or a reminder of this time. As for the world, I would like to say: appreciate your artists and creatives and pay them enough; we only tolerate the neglect towards our craft because we love what we do .

My name is Omar El Kays, I go by Kays. I’m a Palestinian Lebanese DJ, music producer, and creative mind. I’m 23 years old and have been DJ’ing ever since I was around 8 years old, and, produced music since I was about 12. I grew up and lived my entire life in Abu Dhabi excluding my time in University. I attended Manchester Midi School and took on 3 HND’s in music production, audio engineering, and music business. A year and a half later I ended up in the US studying marketing and psychology in Virginia & Ohio, then decided to drop out, come back to the UAE to pursue DJ’ing and music professionally. I’ve recently completed a diploma from Boston Berklee College of Music in the music business too.

I run my own home studio and creative agency in Abu Dhabi where I work with local artists and companies. Furthermore, I frequently host my own event’s throughout various clubs in the capital.

COVID has had an indisputable impact on my day to day life, however, I have chosen to take this in stride and embrace the opportunity to be creative and expand my portfolio. I have been testing new sounds and styles to try and enhance my current skill set, embracing the occasion. Furthermore, I have begun a monthly mix called ‘Mixed Mondays’, which is a 40-60 minute mix on songs that I like and that I would typically play at an event. You can find the mixes on my SoundCloud, releasing on the first Monday of every month. Also, I’ve been creating monthly mixes for a new local podcast, “The Flamingos” that my good friend Riad has begun. Topics range from discussions about the international and local music scene, film industry, pop news, and new trends. The monthly mix for the Flamingos is a playlist of regional artists based in the Middle East.

I am currently working on a few projects with my longtime friend, artist and partner NaJ @najvls on his upcoming projects and working with different local artists on their projects trying to grow the scene during these trying time, while also working on my own personal project which is set to come out sometime early July titled “Lulu”, which in Arabic means pearl. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have a rich history of pearl divers and considering that pearls are found in the ocean the EP has a “beachy” summertime vibe. It’s going to be a mix of RnB, Hip-Hop, Afro Beat & UK Afro Swing. If I was going to describe the style of beats in a different way I’d call it Tropical Trap.

Some regional artists I draw inspiration from would be NaJ, Moh Flow, A’Y, Prince Q, RoTation, Freek, and Pre Kai Ro. The first few DJs / producers I looked up to in the UAE industry throughout elementary and middle school were Danny Neville, Prince Q, and DJ Bliss. From the international scene, my idols are Kanye West and Dr Dre.

I believe the art world will become more digital than ever before but I also believe that once life gets back to normal whether you’re a musician, DJ, producer, photographer, videographer, painter, doesn’t matter, as long as you’re apart of the art world, I believe we will all be getting more support from each other considering it’s quite hard for us to make money without clubs, concerts, events, art galleries, etc being open.

If I had one thing to tell the world at this time it’s to be safe during this pandemic, to support one another and to get creative. I believe everyone has some creative quality even if they don’t know it yet, it’s there.

Hey, I’m DJ Soulninja and I’ve been playing music in the UAE since 2002. Last few months I’ve just been laying low, relaxing at home with my cat, playing PlayStation staying on top of the music. Looking forward to making people dance again and catching other local artists to do their thing. Lots of love for Jaymie Danville, Moh flow, Adam Balush, and Abri. I hope the creative communities around the world emerge from this time of uncertainty drawing inspiration for a brighter future for the people and the planet…

My name is Alwaleed, which literally translates to ‘the Waleed’. I am an EMCEE and podcast host of The EMCEE Podcast so you can probably tell it’s something I’m very passionate about.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been forced to slow down and think and come up with an idea to help everyone post pandemic and therefore founded EMCEE.AE; the first and only platform in the world to help EMCEEs find work.

I think art will prevail and it is only a matter of time before we’re back in full-force. Keep hustling fellow artists !!

I’m an architect / freelance boxing & Bodycombat coach, after a long run in fitness a part of me was unleashed through boxing, I fell for it and being a coach made me share my passion with the world.

In the last couple of months, I got in a phase of learning how to be easy on myself, how to handle things with an “ it’s ok “ attitude. It has been a struggle stepping down from my daily roller coaster into this slo-mo pace. My workouts and sketches helped me through it, and devoting more of my time learning percussion was the cherry on top.

This pandemic forced me out of my comfort zone and the stubborn me will always take a challenge. My forever project is me. Taking every opportunity to make a better version of myself.

I draw inspiration from those who helped me be the person I am today.. my idols and coaches @yasmin_wahbi , @fatomaa_salah , my talented instructor @biroomaan

Art, the infinite escape, the where and what we turn to when nothing makes sense anymore. It’s that unspoken solidarity creators have that made this time brighter. I see the art world untouchable only because of these creative minds who give it its immunity and forever will.

At last, be sure that you got everything you need on you.
Say yes to life.
Be kind.
Keep it real.
Stay with the fight.

Hi. My name is Mahmoud Essam. I am a photographer and artist born and raised in Abu Dhabi and have recently moved to Dubai. I chase after passion, the meaning behind everything, the never ending struggle of self-worth, and to matter in the art world. Over the past few weeks the world has been pouring gasoline on fire that’s been long buring. So, naturally, I’ve spent it watching best I could and occasionally jumping in. I am talking about the BLM movement of course. The past few weeks my mind have been sore from past wounds, exhausted memories and the constant moral struggle between who deserves my anger and who deserves my peace and patience.

This all started with the pandemic’s toll on the world and ever since I’ve been constantly bombarded by “HOW TO LEARN” a new skill, grow a third arm, or become a bicycle. All subtly telling me that I aint worth shit if I come out of a PANDEMIC without a new skill…
So naturally I did none of that, sweeped all the posts and pics of desperate celebs and influencers chasing to become relevant again and just sat home and did nothing. This has left a lot of room for me to think, something that I believed carried away artists like myself don’t get the liberty to do often.

Being unable to practice my art in the way I am used to and the feeling of impending doom looming outside my front door, I have decided that the latest project I will be working on is actively trying to relax and keeping my sanity in check. All while allowing myself to organically practice my art and allow it to manifest itself in whatever way it needs be. With the world on pause, the typical artist’s fear of sucking at something has faded a little due to the world coming to an end and all. This has led me to battle between the “is this really for me” question and the “these aren’t really normal circumstances” answer. However, I take comfort in that. That these aren’t the times to jump ship unless you have to of course. And judging myself during uncertain times like these feels incorrect.

In these hard times it’s nice to look at neighboring artists and see how they’re doing. Here are a few of the people that inspire me with their:
organic talent and shredding skill. @jdeligero
inescapable passion and humbleness. @abri.music
ability to master a craft. @noobovich
compassion, love, and strength. @imanofthemoon
bravery, unapologetically being your queer self, and textin bitches @texting_bitches
crafting a message with an image @skyseeef
discovering fire @narcynarce
teaching me how to walk for a second time @waleedshah
And finally @mustafayanaz for making hair look like remote controlled alien ships
I hope you all are doing well <3

After the spanish flu passed, movements like dadaism and modern architecture erupted. Strings of art that for the most part did not exist. Universal tragedies always open the door to new and unexplored types of art. One thing that’s always common is the significant intolerance society suddenly acquires towards fake unearned bullshit. If you’re some dude or brand who thinks way too much of themselves, don’t do the homework, are mean, racist, or phoney then you’re out the window. I am all for that. In a way that excites me and terrifies me. I can’t know for sure what artists all over the world will feel or are feeling but I have a good guess. This hurt, doubt and confusion are things we don’t have answers for. Hell, our parents don’t either. There is very little guidance on how to maneuver all your feelings during a pandemic. That being said, art is the greatest expression of humanity. With time artists will emerge from around the world to express how they felt in their own medium. But to be able to do that you have to allow yourself to feel. To feel scared, grief for the world, sorrow, and hopefully one day relief.

I plead to artists all over the region and the world to let go in the meantime. Feel what you have to feel, don’t hold back. It’s okay to slow down. It’s okay that you can’t find work. It’s okay that you got fired. You’ll get back up. We always do in one way or another, I am sure of it <3
And when you do, explore what you’ve felt during these hard times in the best way you know how to express. Make art.

My name is Jes Luisse. I am a UAE based photographer. To be honest, I haven’t been shooting since there weren’t a lot of projects in the company I used to work for. I went back to my old hobbies things like playing guitar and sketching portraits. It was also a good situation for me to take a good break from photography so I can do the things I love that I haven’t been doing for so long. I was being approached as well by one of the really great universities in my country to be a guest speaker in their webinar series to tackle about dealing with this whole pandemic as an artist which I wasn’t really expecting of. Until then I became one of those who got affected losing a job.

I’m still in the process of considering a new way of working, also aiming for survivability and resilience before economic efficiency. But one thing is for sure, pandemic or not, there will always be a better strategy for everyone who wants to be successful.

My last project was about taking portraits of the CEO of Gargash. But for me, every day is always a new project for everyone to become better at what they’re doing.

I never really look up to regional artists because I always do research on different international artists mostly. Though there’s really a lot of respected and talented photographers in the region.

I think the art world will remain the same and at the same time, there will be always an evolvement. Pandemic or not, do what you gotta do. Always do it for yourself.

Maryam El Attar @maryampottery

Clay is the way I channel my creativity, and oh boy! I got obsessed. 

Entered into the pottery world in the most random way not knowing it will be my place of happiness and solace. It’s the only thing I immerse myself into without checking the time.

Starting pottery classes about a year ago and with Covid19 blessings, I found time to explore clay and understand it is one of the most versatile art mediums where I can freely express myself. 

With entering the world of pottery, I have come across some awesome potters who opened my eyes to a realm of endless pottery possibilities. To mention a few: 

• Locally @rusoncermamics, @cermics_by_griet
• Internationally @jeremy.bellina, @Erstudio & @wolfceramics

A very special thank you to Emad @emadmutter for introducing me to pottery, forever grateful. 

My name is Hitesh Dewasi ( @iamhiteshdewasi ), Photographer, Videographer, Designer, and more than anything else a Seeker. What does it mean to be a seeker? It is to have a restless mind, to have a fire in the belly, to define, be consumed with and agitated by curiosity, to want to know the world, to want to map the world, it is to question dogma, to rage against the darkness, to scramble the self and constantly have a desire to upgrade and improve, understand oneself and refine in every way possible, and finally to not give in and not let go. What pulls me is the possibility of making something happen.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been incubating ideas and strategies, diversifying the skill set I possess which can lead to more projects and convert them into both financial and personal growth, some of the examples are like starting the steps to open an e-commerce portal for some of my photography-related products which will be launched on my website ( www.iamhiteshdewasi.com ). I have also started writing articles on topics I can provide good information on like photography, traveling, design, etc. which will be released on other mediums TBD.

The key I believe in diversifying and there is no post-pandemic the strategy has to begin earliest possible, each industry will have its own challenges and the ones who will be able to identify them in time and overcome those will thrive because opportunities will arise and like a wise man once said luck is nothing but opportunity meeting with preparation.

I have many projects at different stages of completion but there are some I am more excited about than others, making a short documentary of getting a bucket list shot is something I’ve been working on which was put on hold due to travel restrictions but I am still aiming to finish it by mid-2021.

Any artist who takes the chance to put themselves out there is an inspiration but above all, there are two who have not only become close friends over time but also are like brothers to me @mohflowmusic and @aytheproducer because when I first moved to Dubai 2 years ago they were the first to see something in me and gave me an opportunity which led me to where I am today, through them, I got to meet many other amazing artists like @Jeed @kchamadamusic @Behruzmistry @dhb.djtj @Shebanimusic @listentomichele @novemberus @Kays.wav @Abri.music @freektv and others.

PS: I also met @Waleedshah through them which led to another great friendship and a mentor in the photography industry.

Throughout history after a major crisis its shown us one thing that great artists and art are born in forms of music, writing, drama, paintings, photography, cinema, etc. So I am very optimistic about the future of the art world and any artist who will be willing enough to change and adapt with the time, use it as motivation and inspiration to create and bring to life ideas which will change the world, in fact, I dare to say this will be the genesis of a new art movement.

My message to everyone, take it as an opportunity to truly look into yourself and follow your passion because this life is really short nobody knows when it will end so don’t waste it doing what somebody else wants.

I’m Hanan and I hate titles because I believe we can do and be whoever we want to be. We are what I heard once on TED talks, multipotentiolites. Lately, I have been exploring what my natural and true self wants. I found myself going back to personal training, freelancing in production, and consulting in marketing & social media. I am working with clients in the education industry building their online presence. Regional artists I admire are @waleedshah and @munaamareen and I believe the word is shifting to authenticity and creativity and all the mass production will soon die because it won’t stand out. People are desperate for what’s real and real brands will stay. My final advice to the world, find your beautiful state, and live there. Be true to yourself. Namaste 🙏🏼

​Namaste,

I’m Vinit Sadhwani, and when I’m not letting my curiosity get the most of my attention, I’m freelancing in the realm of Marketing and Content Creation.

That thing on my head is a skydiving helmet that I purchased when I took up the sport a couple of years ago – a sport that taught me the art of being fearless.

@50cent, one of my favorite artists of all time has written a book with @robertgreeneofficial, my favorite author, called “The 50th Law”, which gives some solid advice on how one can achieve a state of fearlessness. I’ve read that book thrice, and while it contains some profound information, I believe those 900 pages I read over a span of 6 months don’t stand a chance against one skydive.

Imagine jumping out of a perfectly good airplane 4 kilometers off Earth, nearing death, and then saving your own life!

I believe it is this irrational state of fearlessness that made me switch from working at a fairly stable job to an uncertain, unforgiving, and non-secure world of independent work a.k.a freelancing.

Vowing to provide exactly the same services as marketing agencies do at a fraction of the price, and with INTEGRITY, I kept hunting for business until I was juggling 6 major clients within two months!

To date, I’ve conceptualized events/brunches, rebranded businesses, enhanced brand positionings, held training sessions, and spearheaded collaborations for some solid brands in Dubai as a freelancer…and I AM READY FOR MORE!

Over the past four months, I’ve been sharpening the axe of my existing skillset and have also forayed into Digital Marketing, Photography, Videography, Sound Design, and…Cooking, which means I’m back on the market…BETTER, STRONGER, FASTER!

Hit me up! #AnaMowjood.

The theme of 2020 is survival. In this post COVID world this year has been traumatic but for me it’s a whole new level. Dealing with job losses, divorce and being Lebanese it’s taken a toll on my mental health. So this year I’m focusing on. My mental health. I took some time off to re prioritize set goals and focus on being a single mom. It’s been challenging to say the least but with a positive attitude. If anyone mentions anything about the new normal they have no idea what they’re talking about. Being a second gen Lebanese bit born in the uae (over 30 years without revealing my age) I feel the uae has provided so many opportunities and shed light on mental health in particular there are so many institutions offering free therapy for those who need it. I think we shouldn’t be so hard on ourselves we are all in the same boat trying to survive. In my pre COVID life I was a marketer and now I’m freelancing with social media to support myself. I’m constantly learning and exploring, upskilling by taking courses on social media and google and SEO. I’ve found my passion, part of the healing process is taking time off doing whatever makes ME happy whether it’s spending time with my kid, horse riding or just plain sleeping. You gotta do YOU! This is my story and I hope you like it?

​My name is Natasha I have been based in Dubai for just over six years, I am a professional Dancer, Teacher & Choreographer. I have been spending quarantine connecting a lot more with my loved ones (thank God for zoom) also looking after ME physically & mentally.. Keeping fit, Dancing as always, also using this time to go even more “Within” lots of meditation and yoga it’s all about balance right? Hence to the headstand in this photo.
I believe in following the “Signs” so my latest project is a mindfulness certification I am working towards.

I respect a lot of regional artists here, they really do master their craft! The one who inspires me the most is my partner @asliceofkraftiness a Dancer & Stylest who shows his art beautifully!

We have no control over what’s going on in the world, but we do have control of ourselves so let’s make the most it! Keep moving to keep creating and when its over the art world will share the magic

My name is Natali and I’m an Armenian Singer Songwriter.

Growing up I always felt a little different and out of place. I’d think about things differently and see the world differently, but it was never really easy for me to convey.
Music was my escape. I’ve been writing since I was 11 and my family says I could sing before I speak.
Although I’ve never really felt comfortable enough to share my lyrics and music with the world. It just feels so personal to me and I worry that no one would understand.

There’s a lot that goes through my head and heart, and sometimes my thoughts can be overpowering…this is why music is my coping mechanism. It’s the creative outlet which brings me the healing and comfort that my soul craves. When I perform, I’m able to convey not only what’s in my heart, but for those few hours, I can provide other’s with the same love that I feel.
I’ve been hiding behind the lyrics of songs which have touched me but eventually when I’m ready, I’ll eventually share my music with the world. Not just for myself, but because I want to heal others through music the same way it healed me.
I want to uplift my friends and I want to inspire other people.
I want to unite people through music and love, and remind them that no matter what, we never have to feel alone ♡

​Hiiiii! Emaan here! or as my friends like to call me, Money.
I was born and raised in California, and although I am American, born and bred, my Egyptian roots run deep. I moved to Dubai with the plan to stay for a year or 2, yet, here I am 4 years later, chasing my beauty business dreams.

The last few weeks have been, transformative, to say the least. I’ve been through all phases of quarantine, from living room workouts to baking banana bread, to staring at walls hoping my permit would duplicate itself so I could go outside again. And now, as I sit and watch a revolution unfold back home, it’s heavy, but it’s hopeful. It’s devastating, but somewhat divine, that the whole world would come to a complete stop and demand that changes be made when it comes to discrimination and race.

If I’ve learned anything while developing my own business during a global pandemic, it’s you can plan, and plan, but life will only let you so much. Even if you try to control EVERYTHING IMAGINABLE, you can’t control it all, and there’s a beauty in that. Gives strength to the belief that what will be will be, because it’s already written.

I believe that history books will tell us the facts and stats, while the art that comes out of this incredible time will tell us the emotions and experiences of those living through it. I am excited to see what diamonds come out of this time of immense pressure and uncertainty.

Hi! My name is Lana Makhzoumi (aka @lanz_tho) and I’m a content creator and co-host on @dxbabiespodcast. During the last few weeks, I have been working out, baking banana bread, journaling, and TikToking.

We have been given the opportunity to reset and recharge and as someone who never slows down, I took this moment in history to take some time for myself. I’ve been taking some time to really focus on the podcast @maramhendy and I started. We just released an episode on @dxbabiespodcast on dating in quarantine- I joined some dating apps in Dubai and gave the scoop on online dating in the UAE. Our podcast is raw and vulnerable and even during quarantine, we aim to give our audiences just that. Being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel the pressure.

The world as we once knew it has changed forever. I think future artwork will draw inspiration from the pandemic and what it taught us, I also think the way we communicate and show art will be more authentic and organic. Some of the artists I draw inspiration from are @dukkanmedia, @drankin_leen, and @linda.shami.

weird – good and bad – (let’s focus on the good as the bad was mostly me reacting badly to deep sanitization and having skin peeling off like I was burnt…it was painful)
The pandemic taught me that in solitude you can find internal peace ..those quiet days …my daughter an introvert not leaving her room, me sat alone on the sofa with my own thoughts ..sometimes @passengermusic playing in the background (mostly the song ‘survivors’)…pondering about the things that mattered and those that didn’t …it allowed me to reassess what I want, where I want to be, who I want to be…..I was relieved to realize that I had no regrets for the path I had chosen for myself …to be true to myself, albeit lonely at times ..but the peace it still brings is worth the fight ..to stand bare-naked …for my own essence to glow ..to glow through all the layers built up over the years. Sometimes it had to glow through cracks before I could have the courage in revealing it. To be seen as I am.
I am ever so grateful for the people who keep me going and for specific ones who have seen me through all the stages (religious, nerd, wild …etc.. @3aliyah @reem_bahwan) in my life till I reached to “my self-actualization” with no judgement whatsoever.
Remember to surround yourself with kind, loyal, generous, optimistic, empathetic, and compassionate people …the world needs more kind people.

What do I say about myself that doesn’t sound trivial and boring, but not come off as arrogant and narcissistic? Ok, here we go… 

As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to make movies. My brothers and I would make skateboarding videos with my dad’s old Panasonic VHS recorder. It was crazy actually, now that I look back on it. This big, bulky ass camera, which we would lug around with us everywhere. I was also infatuated with scriptwriting and storytelling. I spent countless hours watching film and studying script structure, plot development, and even camera and lighting. I remember buying the script to pulp fiction in University because I wanted to see how Quentin Tarantino wrote it. What words he used to describe certain scenes and how he would even frame them in writing. It was eye-opening. When I got to college, I wanted to be a scriptwriter, but my dad told me there’s no money in that. That’s Arab parents for you. “Baba, you should become a doctor or an engineer, or something that can make you money instead,” he said to me.

Big mistake. Never listen to your parents when it comes to your life. They usually have their own interests at heart, not yours. That was my first major mistake in life. I would make many more but that is one that I regret to this day. 

I ended up in Advertising and began my journey as a copywriter. I wrote TV commercials instead, which was ok in the end but not what I really wanted to do. I was still detached from the film making process. I wanted more. After about 15 years in the business, I was burnt out, fed up, and just completely jaded by the industry. I left my job as a Creative Director of a reputable agency in the UAE whilst my wife was 9 months pregnant. I never told her until after she gave birth. I decided it was now or never. Al Hamdullilah, I never regretted that decision. God is the best of planners and I found my way back to film. In 2016, I started Creative Animals – a Creative + Production Agency that focused on content creation in all forms. We’ve been very fortunate to work with some of the best brands, and people in the world. 

Over the last 3 months, our business has definitely slowed down, but we are optimistic about its recovery. I’m personally doing a lot of introspection and trying to figure out what I need to do to become a better leader, and a successful person, both professionally and personally. Where are my weaknesses? As a creative person, and as well as a father? This time has been a blessing, to be honest. I think the whole world got caught up in the rat race, and now Mother Nature is telling us to ‘slow the f**k down”.

I think for me, I’ve learned to say “Yes” more and just jump into things more freely without associating a cost to it as I did before. I had become more of a Business Owner, and less of a Creative person and I think my strategy moving forward from this pandemic is to focus on the creation of the project, and not the bottom line of our business. The money will come and go, but your legacy as a creative person will live on. People remember an emotive piece of content, not the total price at the end of a quotation.  

I’m working on a couple of projects now, but the one that I recently finished and held very close to my heart was my personal video diary of our Quarantined days together as a family. There was no pre-production, no fancy equipment or lighting, and definitely no production team. It was just me, my SonyA7, and my ideas. I shot it over 3 weeks in our home and edited the whole thing in 4 days. I’m really proud of the outcome. I also have something to share with my kids when they get older. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB1muIfjPL0

Oh my god, I have a long-ass list of people that I draw inspiration from because the reality is I’m continually blown away by the level of creativity in this region. Sometimes, the West look at us like this “barbaric, uncivilized, unimaginative world” and yet, we are continually breaking all the barriers in every facet of the creative industry from Fashion Designers to Writers, to Photographers to Cinematographers all the way to Perfumists, and Canvas and Mixed Media Artists. Where do I start? Inspiration in this region is abundant but I’m a big fan of The Golkar brothers of Emperor 1688 (@emperorlondon),  Abdullah Qandeel (@theqandeel), Tam Khan (@tam_khan), Laila Shawwa (@Laila.Shawa), my sister, Laila Mokdad (@tawlet.laila), Elias Trad (@eliastrad_dop), Bobby Dhillion (@bobbydhillon7) and even you, Mr. Waleed Shah. :) But honestly, I could go on and on. 

The art world will survive, thrive, and always stay alive. Art, in all its forms, manifests itself in our culture and into how we perceive and interpret the world. It’s a form of therapy and without art, we cannot express ourselves. It’s that simple. So, I believe art will live on just like it always has. It will evolve and take on a life of its own like it always has in the past. Look at the Renaissance period. The tech boom, and now, the influencer/app development enigma. All forms of art are expressed in their own unique way. Art imitates life… or is it life imitates art? :) 

My final message to the world is simple. Stay humble. Stay creative, and make decisions based on your happiness. Legacy over Currency. 

Thank you Waleed for giving us such an awesome platform to express ourselves. Life is difficult, complicated, and very emotional at times. Platforms like this give us permission to be who we are, NOT what we build ourselves up to the outside world to be. This was therapeutic. :) 

My name is Omar Al Duri
I’m an international coach, an author and I host my own radio show.
I’ve spent the last few weeks working on my Brand Reset which is at the very early stages of the umbrella.
I released my Book RESET – 5 dominos that will change your life Pre COVID. Since lockdown due to circumstances, I wanted to channel my energy, love, and time to developing that further by adding the ReSeT training program and the ReSeT podcast!

The pandemic taught me to be grateful for the team I have at the @pulse95radio station from a producer, music executive, and IT to help me out whenever I need it.
Soon as we were forced to work from home to respect regulations – I learned how to produce, edit, and record my own show with all the edges polished! Of course, it did take a few errors to get it right but also taught me a lot about producing your own show.

So I want to use my platform to highlight topics I mention in the book by bringing on guests to tell us their journey and how they ReSeT.
From mental health to Gut health – I draw inspiration from each story that comes my way.

My beautiful mother and wife play a huge role in my life which defines unconditional which I’m very grateful and blessed to have under one roof.

All three industries I’m involved in are so different so it’s more about taking a little from different people.

More than ever I believe the world is unconsciously going through a Reset.
The things we are learning about ourselves, our loved ones, our friends past and present, and our minds.
The challenges we have all faced individually and collectively are relentless considering the different battles we have.

The world has been put on hold to highlight the value, importance, and priority when it comes to health.

If it’s this week, this month, or this year please take away its lessons into our future.
We are experiencing something together.
More than ever our mental health is in action.
Train it as if you were training your body..

Empathy gratitude self-love
Self-development
Accountability in all the five dominos will help you have a better day tomorrow.

Stay blessed
Stay safe
Stay at home

Omar Al Duri

​I’m Wahid Aziz. Officially, I’m the CEO of tasjeel.ae; unofficially, I’m a UAE SMB superfan!

We’ve spent the last few weeks working through the madness, helping businesses get online, building our blog as a go-to resource on digital marketing, and launching new products like our DIY Website Builder.

We talk a lot about getting businesses online, but actually, it’s about getting people’s ideas online. That’s always been part of our DNA – tasjeel means ‘registration’, and our tagline is ‘We register great ideas’ – but since Covid, that’s become bigger than ever.

Some people thought the pandemic would dent the UAE’s start-up scene, but for me, it’s just increased it. We’re really seeing that switch away from working a safe job to setting up something of your own, and take-up of our services has increased.

Right now, we’re adapting to make sure we keep that personal element that makes us unique. That means finding new channels to reach out to the start-up community. It’s also about launching in-depth services for clients who want more than a domain name, email and web hosting.

Take our latest project, ‘Quick Site’. It’s a web design service for clients who want to get online in just 14 days. We looked at how regular web developers work – high fees, leaving the customer clueless about site management – and we just knew we could do better. So, we based Quick Site on our Website Builder – everything’s thrown in – domain, email, hosting, etc., but we take care of the web development too.

Al 7amdila tasjeel.ae is becoming a bigger and bigger part of the UAE start-up scene, and I’m always alive to the way challenges can become opportunities. I think other entrepreneurs and freelancers get that, and it’s that shared optimism that connects us to our customers. I live by the mantra ‘Work like a slave; command like a king; create like a god’, and I know I’m not alone!

​Rebellious thinker, social architect, art enthusiast, and a soccer fanatic.

I am also an introvert! so this last period was kind of a blessing for me, basically, a guilt-free pause to an otherwise very busy social and personal life joggling between; a full-time job, caring for my dog, dancing, managing a personal business and whatever is left was for my family and friends … and trust me after all of that, little was left anyway, and I always felt guilty of not doing enough!

So during these recent events and the restricted movement, I obviously had more time, therefore I decided to do what I normally couldn’t; I decluttered and decorated my house, I started reading again, I connected with long lost friends, I reflected on my life (haven’t we all done that?), set some priorities and goals, I cooked and baked A LOT.

Last I kept a journal, different from my #DiaryOfAWoman. A journal only to capture my daily routine. These are extraordinary times and one day we will look back and remember when everything seemed strange, so I wanted to have something to remind me of this time, to remember this rollercoaster of emotions, the half-covered faces, the empty streets, the supermarket queues, the days fading into each others watching Netflix, in our sweatpants with messy hair and no makeup! I felt I am part of history in the making!

And I wanted to have my own version of it! Because “We may be in the same storm, but we are not in the same boat”.

So whichever boat we’re in, may we all navigate this storm smoothly in peace and love.

Life is not always easy, so we fight, and we sometimes win, and we sometimes lose, but we never stop fighting.

I like Great White Sharks, Jazz, and the smell of baked bread, other than that I am Head of Production at Create Productions. I have been blessed to have worked throughout this time and be part of an incredible team.

Making films is an art and storytelling is something that has captured me since I was young, working in advertising we don’t often have the freedom to express true creativity, so we look beyond. I often find that creative people are some of the most troubled and restless and there is not often enough support for the community, especially when it comes to mental health – the feeling of having to be strong and never show weakness is one I have battled with… but continue to fight…

So many people have inspired me, but a special shout to my dearest friend in creativity, we have journeyed since we were 10 years old and have accomplished achievements many people dream of.. @loganallanson keep fighting.

Thanks to Waleed for the cool tunes over the 3 weeks

Peace

My name is Haidy Elhakem I’m 30 years old and my profession is actress – last few weeks were a little bit hectic as I was moving to a new place.

Fortunately, the pandemic didn’t affect my job and I’m following the same plan that I set for myself this year thank God. I had a photo shoot last week, and I’ve enjoyed my role as a model it was a very good experience. Adel Emam the very famous Egyptian actor is my role model and I wish to meet him in person oneday. The art world will always be a real source of inspiration to many many people despite all the hard times we’re living right now. I have a dream and I will never give up 😇

I’m a full-time artist—born in Kabul, Afghanistan & raised between the UAE, and the USA.

Since the world changed in the last few months, I’ve become intimately acquainted with a talented, colorful presence. I look forward every day, to wake up, and to have the privilege of spending it with her. It’s surprising, especially since I’ve known this human my whole life and I would criticize, judge, and always compare her to others. I would lose my temper and take her for granted. In the past.

My latest project is my YouTube art channel where I want you to, also get to know this person, and become inspired by her. You see, she’s bold, a super-nice creative, and she would like to tell the new world that it’s never too late, to become an artist too.

This pandemic is a chance at a new beginning. And an opportunity to reinvent ourselves, learn the mandolin (I’m starting lessons soon,) catch up with the last few hundred seasons of Grey’s Anatomy while knitting (a much-underrated activity,) perfecting my banana-bread-making skills, and much more.

I’d love to get to know you too, so let’s talk!

I have described myself in many ways: A translator. A researcher. A filmmaker. A Swahili geek. A listener. A storyteller. The past few months have been so intense in all dimensions. The world is transforming, my beliefs have fundamentally changed and it feels like I’m becoming a new person every day. It’s quite exciting. As for now, I want to call myself a bridge.

I feel so deeply about human connections that I usually tear up when I witness it. Remember the videos of people singing together on balconies? There is something so beautiful and humble about people coming together as humans, no matter how big the differences between them may be.

As a global community, we need more of that. We have 10 years to halve our emissions – and the good news is that we can actually make it happen if we stand together in our shared humanity.

By sharing stories and creating opportunities for people to empathize and connect across cultures,
I see myself as a bridge in this process. One person in the region that has inspired me is @wrichitects. I love how the daily writing prompts make people open up and share their stories through creative writing.

The last thing I did before the lockdown hit was participating in a workshop on music as a peacebuilding tool. A few weeks later, I started an online Master’s program in Diplomacy. Having an excuse to read geeky papers on conflict resolution and the role of art and music in fostering intercultural understanding makes me super happy.

I’m currently finishing a short film about my 85-year-old grandpa. He is a forester and planted over 15 million trees. I want to be like him. My grandpa will never see his oak trees turning 500 years. And so, I may never see the climax of my endeavors. But as I leave, I want to know that I have given it all and left the best possible legacy for this planet and everyone who comes after me.

As a journalist and model, my strategy now is to freelance and do more and bigger projects as I left my previous job, which didn’t allow me to do anything (literally!). I get inspired by Saad Lamjareed and otherwise from people I work with (everyone has a new perspective and I continue to get inspired). In addition to that, I want the world to understand the concept of “helping”, “caring”, and “respect”. I feel these values are deteriorating over time and need to be reenforced. Therefore, dear world, please work together and help one another, otherwise we will continue to go backwards and spread hatred. When a simple act of respect or kindness can rekindle a smile and create trust amongst societies, then imagine a world where we will be able to harmonise and make our environment peaceful. It’s as simple as that.

Quizy Quiz. I am a local rapper who was born in 93′ and started rapping in the back of my school bus around 07-08. My style has evolved through out the years when i started using music as my outlet for self expression when I couldn’t express myself in a normal conversation.
As of lately ive been experimenting with my sound aiming towards more uplifting and upbeat vibes without losing too much of my personal touch.
Unfortunately with the world currently on fire, and everyone taking a hit in their personal life, many artists and myself have been struggling creatively as well and we’re itching to get back to entertaining you.
With that, my latest projects try and offer silver linings during a dark time. Once this whole things washes over I can’t wait and see how my city explodes again, especially with the music scene.
Until then, stay safe, take care of yourself. I love you and I will serenade you soon enough.

Namaste. Its KOKO, creator of @braidboxx. I am a free-spirited being who has never been in peace with the restrictions that the culture and traditions force sometimes, so I finally broke free!

I’ve always been into art. Even when I’m not creating it, I’m appreciating it. Braids are a form of art that I’ve been intrigued by since I was a kid. With @braidboxx we are taking braids to a whole different level, accessible for everyone. We started last December ‘n it’s been amazing to see people’s reactions when seeing BRAIDBOXX at action.

You look at nature where art was born and you know its a hurricane we are going through that will have its damages after. Getting up after the hurricane is over is what matters. Currently, I’m doing home services and working on PEOPLE OF BRAIDBOXX; a before and after series, hit us up if you’d like to be part of making it or being in it.

Whats flexible cannot be broken. Get in a high state of mind and maintain it. You are way bigger and stronger than any virus. Go face your fears!!

☮️ & ❤️

​Hey, I’m David Aaron Desouza and I go by the name of DJ DAD as a performer. I’m originally Indian but since I was born and raised up in the UAE I consider myself an Abu Dhabi boy. I’m an open format DJ and been hustling it out from time to time working for events and promotions. Music is something that impacts people so much and I love being part of that moment in nightclubs, weddings, birthdays, and other events. I’ve made 2020 the year of character building for me. Over the past weeks, I meditate, read books, improve my DJ skills, go for runs, quite bad habits and also be part of communities such as @darknessintolightad and @blankcanvas.community and I usually have zoom sessions with around 10 of my friends to end my day. Post pandemic I’m working on redesigning my entire system on how I work with my clients in a way that is more acceptable to both parties and more importantly improve my financial literacy during my work. I’ve started this online service where people can purchase customized mixtapes of all their favorite songs (Hit the link in my bio to know more). Someone who has always inspired me from the time I wanted to be a DJ is @saifandsoundofficial seeing him perform at events like beats on the beach or at du arena always drives me to pursue my goals he’s such an inspiration. The other artists who inspire me are @djkaboo , @djkeithdobbs, and of course my main man right now who thought me to be comfortable in my zone @waleedshah. I feel the art world has impacted most people to realize that art is more of an expression than just a monetary value as well as it’s been given new channels to connect with people through social media and live sessions. I would just like to tell the world just to look at yourself as a cell phone and it’s time for a software update or reboot so this the time to just take a pause and learn, understand and be aware of every situation you might face.

​أنا I’m Sally Mourad

I’m a producer.. by no direct choice of mine!

It sort of happened as I gave myself the opportunity to go with the flow…that same flow made me who I’m today!  AND ITS JUST LIKE I FELL IN LOVE… My sister and I have what we like to call Facilitator Syndrome… We describe it as a very natural and strong urge to help or support others “literally anyone around us” in absolutely anything they might ask of me or need to be done! I’m always the first to raise a hand when any sort of help is needed, sometimes even to things that I wasn’t sure I’m capable of doing… I’d just do it naturally! And I’d make it happen to the best of my ability… and I never realized it until I got a bit older and started to feel frequently overwhelmed by things that I wasn’t necessarily supposed to be worrying about or weren’t even my own to keep credit for!
I could talk about this plenty….but the point is; this is how I connected my personality to the job I handle and love today…
I MAKE SH*T HAPPEN and it brings me a healthy combination of joy, stress and income👽

I came to peace with the fact that It’s in my nature to see the wrong “or what seems to be wrong or irregular” in myself before or instead of seeing it in my environment or others around me and figured this is why I tend to beat myself for even the tiniest hiccups or inconveniences…I now understand that it’s ok to fail. It’s ok to not have my sh*t together all the time. It’s ok to distance away from people that aren’t necessarily good for me “regardless of how much they mean to me”. It’s ok to not have my future plans laid out in front of me to answer people’s questions about them. It’s ok to be afraid and unsure. It’s ok that I’m not in perfect shape and that I’m not using this time to exercise, read, study, or GROW…. because among all of that I was especially growing and as I spent more time with myself!! in peace!! I realized it… simply because I gave myself a CHANCE!

We don’t walk the earth to be perfect..heck most of us don’t even understand why we’re even here and now!!

I go by the name of Adam Kadabra. I’m a Magician, Musician, and aspiring filmmaker. The past few weeks have been interesting, I get productive days and lazy days. It’s hard to be inspired lying on my couch but eventually, boredom sinks in and I want to get the ball rolling.
​
​The industry has defiantly changed, some good some bad. I feel close up magic will be hard to get back into events as the work involves spectators and hands-on. Film and media are in high demand and content is king for now. I’ve started to gear towards entertainment on social media and build my brand around it and hopefully, fingers crossed, when the epidemic has settled down I’ll be prepared.
​
​I was lucky to shoot my short film New Angeles in January before UAE went into lockdown which is one of the latest projects I’m working on at the moment which you can follow on Instagram @newangelesthewebseries. It’s hard to be unique, and stand out as an artist where everyone expects you to play covers or just play the “safe” stuff.
​
​The UAE has such a massive pool of talented people that are working on their own material. @aspercasper and @amansheriffmusic are good examples of two artists I really admire for sticking to their own work and it’s very inspiring.
​
​The lockdown has been a good way to get break out those creative juices and to find your inner voice. They say when we fall down 9 times we get back up 10 times, always keep pushing and you will reach the top.

Nada Tawhid, Actress.

Currently involved in a project that requires me to act almost daily “been shooting for 6months and counting” It’s like a military approach for acting that I feel is very intense, painful, and necessary.

My post-pandemic strategy is definitely more head-on. I feel like this situation glued together all the scattered parts inside me and pushed them out. We’ll see how that works out!

This latest project am involved in is a soap opera drama series @almeerathshow that is set to be 250 episodes, it started airing on MBC 1st of March, and a few days back we reached episode 100 “yaay”. It is a very special project cause it requires me to put A LOT of my self in, which is very exhausting and very rewarding at the same time.

Artists in general inspire me and as an actress, I notice my self drawn to the smallest details from different artists that come from different places. It is especially exciting and inspiring when I get to feel a new wave being created, which is currently happening in the Saudi entertainment industry ✨

HI! I am Dipa.
I always have a hard time defining who I am, where I am from, and what makes me “Dipa”. Officially, I am an interior designer – but that’s just my job. Because I also am a meditation mentor, ceramist, life lover, small things lover, food, tea, nature lover and so many other things!

I think everything I do, every place I visit, each experience -good or bad-, each person I met has made me the way I am now and who I am – so constantly changing, evolving with a core “Dipa” in me.

I am Congolese by heart – cause born and raised in DRCongo which is still my home, Indian by blood but been there only once, and also Belgian by nationality- lived in Belgium for 11years!
I struggled a lot to accept the fact I was none of those but also all of those with some bits of each of them… Different identities in one person, which makes me so rich now that I have accepted this.

Before The virus and lockdown, I started to open up to people about the fact that I was a meditation teacher, I started conducting classes at my workplace, once a week and then when the lockdown happened, I have been asked to conduct the sessions online, twice a week!
So that lockdown put me in the light and I was suddenly doing online classes to people and talks about meditation, breathing techniques, and mindfulness.
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I have been focusing a lot on myself lately, on how to set my boundaries and stay true to myself, also developing the things I wanted to develop on the side such as my meditation practice and my ceramics skills. Sharing what I call a gift with people that needed some peace/stillness in their mind is a beautiful journey.
I have opened a door of new possibilities and I can’t wait to see what will come next!

I think more than ever the world needs art, creation in all its forms and nuances, we need to let everything we feel/sense out of our mind.
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Compassion, love, kindness, understanding, letting go of the judgment when interacting with people is what we need for our future. And telling the people we love that we see them and we love them.
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I’m a Russian who is always looking for and longing for something new. Photography is my latest desire. Although it always has been. I spent time in the darkroom with my Dad and as a teenager with my friends, Camera point and shoot, camera of my friends, etc. This is what I always loved but never took seriously before. Now I am! What else? Dressmaking. That one thing I never stopped doing )))

Honestly, my time during the pandemic was very confusing in the beginning. For most people, it is always easy moving on a clear predictable path. When someone pushes you to the side you need to sometimes return. I did it quite fast. My knowledge and experience helped me a lot! Ideas for new projects I had before became more realistic. Intuition was whispering “It is all for the better, lots of opportunities” ))

My strategy is simple and clear never put all your eggs in one basket)) I mean do different things, Diversity is not just a trendy word It helps you! It makes your life more interesting and even more safe in a certain way

My latest project is my new brand @UnicMe which was born as a combination of two of my passions. Fashion and Photography. Outfits for different kinds of photoshoots. The moto is “Be who you really want to be” I want to make people be closer to their dream, especially women. Because as little girls we were always dreaming to be someone. I want women to make their dreams come true.

I’m sure the Art world will become even stronger. All artists finally got a chance to finish unfinished projects or start something new. The new reality has created a new wave of artists!

My message to the world is Be Strong, Confident, and Creative, Always Follow your own path!

​My name translates to Immortal Light, literally Dyae Khaled, a Moroccan 22 years old Artist and Designer. Graduated from NYIT as an Interior Architect. Art has always been my passion, I’ve been selling artwork since I was 15. Showcased in Emirates palace, Nation galleria, Art house café, Comic-Con, and Games Con. You can find my art on @dyae.arts. I spent the last few weeks gardening at @mother.of.tellus. Connected with artists in the UAE and worked on new projects. Focused on self-development. During the pandemic I graduated and worked on my thesis during the heat of it all, overwhelming became the new normal. I found the good in bad, decided to use the time for things I procrastinated like my love for plants, focusing on how to spend my time.

My latest project is a new freelancing Interior Design Studio. My team and I are building up (T- Design) @t_dsgn_ as co-founders. Designing interior projects in the UAE and hopefully globally. Since the pandemic, we had to adapt to the situation, reinvent an approach to overcome this obstacle rechanneling our energy and designs.
I draw inspiration from derived artists with unique visions. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to be mentored by one of the most talented calligraphy artists in the region @diaallam. Working on projects together as a collaborator. Diaa Allam has introduced me to the powerful expression of calligraphy.

The future of Art is in its past and present. Due to the pandemic, art continues to express emotions like always, bringing us back to our roots and origins. Explaining how we feel with what’s going on. We’ve seen Art in several forms thriving in pandemics and history too, making statements and expressing louder than voices. Art’s world is eternal even if it changes from one form to another, art is art. Till art do us apart.
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Kindness takes less effort than being uptight. Focus on yourself, it’s not selfish. You can’t love others if you don’t love yourself. Stay inspired and open-minded. No matter how big my imagination is, I’m very down to earth, but only because I know what it’s like to fly away from it.

​I moved to the UAE 12 years ago from Canada to work on the launch team for a newspaper and never left. I’ve been a freelancer for the last three years and have never worked harder: reviewing restaurants, filing radio reports, writing features, editing magazines, and launching a website + podcast.
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​The pandemic forced me to slow down and realize that was a pretty fun hamster wheel, but I was also ignoring some important projects deep in my heart. So first I rested, and then I got busy: I launched @hotflashinc … a global newsletter exploring the powerful and complex transition of perimenopause and menopause. I also wrote my first personal essay for @elephantjournal; started the second draft of a screenplay I wrote and began actually writing a pitch for a memoir dancing around my mind for years. I’m even thinking about turning all the voice notes on my phone into standup or a one-woman show. (That’s why when Waleed asked what we are saying about me, I said “What are we gonna say about me?”)
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​When I’m diving into that urge to be creative, I draw inspiration from the beautiful women who launched @blankcanvas.community because they are igniting the artist within as many people as they can reach. Dominique @houseofdevereaux creates the most beautiful jackets and my bestie @katieellentrotter regularly blows my mind as fashion director for @VogueArabia. I love any time spent in front of musician @adambaluch and am so impressed with you @waleedshah – because of the tough projects you tackle, your gentle spirit, and no-barriers mind. I think regional artists will produce some amazing projects in the coming years, reflecting the collective and individual pandemic experience in beautiful and surprising ways.
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​I wanted to take these photos to mark turning 50 this year because it’s such an important milestone, I’m lucky to have reached it and I feel so damn good about it. Mostly I want everyone to know there is no right age to do things – although this one comes pretty close.

Que dice mi gente? My name is David and I’m from Venezuela. I am pursuing my dream and the biggest passion of my life photography and videography. I am hoping to become a full-time freelancer soon and look forward to working with my gear 24/7.

Since the pandemic started I honestly had more time for myself to improve and sharpen my editing skills. When almost all industries slowed down and some completely shut down, I decided to target the restaurants supporting them with food photos and videos to market their food delivery options.

These people are keeping my brain creative with their work:
@waaledshah
@tgfromdubai
@nh7_
@freddyhcreator
@100.pixels
@ashleyaalbusmait
@mohammad.ae
@sarahbahbah

They were positive and negative things at this time, but let’s be realistic is not the end of the world. People won’t stop making art and creative people won’t stop being who they are.
Don’t stop believing in yourself, pursue your goals until you achieve them, there’s not an easy way or shortcut to success in life.

“​Something I’ve never really thought about doing before was expressing myself through art.
Something the world never really thought it would be going through this way is 2020.

Don’t think…….just do.”

I am not a household name as many of the big entrepreneurs but I have accomplished feats of entrepreneurship and business management that I am so proud of. I have set up a company in Pakistan and moved there to run it when I did not know a single Urdu word or a single person. After exiting my business in 2013, I took another road to establish @manoushe_street when I did not have Fnb experience.
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Being who I am, someone who is quick at taking actions and decisions, I have decided during the COVID19 pandemic to do a full digital transformation for the FnB business and build the largest brick and click food brand company. So this digital transformation is the most exciting thing that is keeping me busy day and night.
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Looking now at the creative side of mine, @zenaassi, @ayman_baalbaki, and Havy Karhaman are always on the top of my list. Though when I look at the art scene these days, I feel it’s just a short phase and things will be back the way they used to be. It is so personal that certain industries can never become digital. The human touch and the relationship you build with the artist and his work is just irreplaceable!
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Let’s remove all the boundaries around our hearts and love what God has given us!

​Holaaaaa, my name is Lelyl Oñoro Berrizbeitia, born in Venezuela, living in Dubai for 6 years so far. I define myself as intensamente latina. I live everything with passion, I have a mixture of Spanish and South American blood plus what I absorbed living 18 years in Italy.

Modeling and acting were always my dreams. I never thought myself good enough to be a model or actress and time went by. A year ago, at 49 I decided now or never and here I am.

I have spent the last few months redefining my plans, what I really want to do, thinking about myself and what I have achieved so far and what I want to achieve. Being locked down allowed me to stop and start to face my fears.

My latest projects gave me the opportunity to meet amazing people, do things that I never imagined doing, and learn a little more.

Art is a word that cannot be limited and I believe that during this pandemic, art in all its manifestations has played a fundamental role, allowing many people to open a new window in this lockdown.

I would like to share my grandmother’s philosophy, which is also mine:

” Tienes el NO en la mano, busca el Si”. You have already the NO in your hand, look for the YES.

Un BESOTEEEE y siempre pa’lante

I’m Sali, aka faerie hooplah (fairy by name, fairy by nature) The circus hula-hooper/fire performer/aspiring costume designer,

When quarantine started I decided to make the best of this time instead of dwelling over what’s been lost, I appreciated that we were blessed with the time to do all the things we’ve been wanting to do, but never had enough time to.
I starter sewing which has given me a lot of joy, and I figured this could be a different avenue that I could explore, because no matter what, people still want to look good 😎 I connected online with incredible international artists to help me out with my Hula hoop act, (this wouldn’t have been possible pre-quarantine without travelling). I’m going to keep perusing my passions and working on my clothesline in anticipation for when we return back to show life. In the meantime, I am working on building my security blanket to protect myself in the future.

​However, the faith is strong that the arts and the realms of creativity thrive once again.

Thank you Waleed for the pleasure of working with you on this project. You are a true inspiration in these troubling times.

Lots of love and light and all things nice 💖🦄💖🦄💖🦄💖🦄

We are Palestinian/Lebanese, naturalized Australian sisters, business partners, best friends and Co-Founders of Blank Canvas Community.

Blank Canvas is a human-centered social enterprise with a vision to re-connect people to their creativity – individuality – interconnectedness; we do this through collaborative art gatherings, creative consulting, storytelling, events production & design, installations, and wellness sessions. We started in Melbourne, Australia in 2014 and we re-launched in the UAE in 2016 – thanks to the legendary White Cube Studios.

We’ve been spending the last few weeks like this – Breathe. Heal. Adapt. Innovate. Repeat – pandemic first, then Beirut blast and all the other tragedies around the world. It’s been a lot, but to witness the power of community during these times has been a real testament for us, of the importance of what we strive for as an organization.

Our mission stands stronger than ever post-pandemic. In addition to events, which is what we spent most of our time on in the past few years, we finally have the chance to focus on – creative consulting and selling products which could help us invest in projects for social development in the region, and eventually the world.

There are a few projects in the pipeline – facilitating remote creative workshops for organizations, we launched our product line @blankcanvas.goods – ‘CollAboRaTe’ – an Art box that encourages group painting, in collab with @artcentraluae where 100% of profits will support @himayaleb. Also, ‘Yoga with Determination’, in collab with @iminclusive, an accessible yoga series for people of all abilities. There’s more coming!

What we would like to share with the world during this wild chapter is – Know yourself, take time to create Art (whatever that may be to you) & explore your unique blueprint, and be compassionate towards one another. These times are causing us all to grieve/heal in some sort of way, only to make room for the next phase our world is moving into. We have a chance to do things differently, let’s do it with each other in mind and heart. This is how we can thrive collectively. As one human family!

My name is Olga. 

I’m Ukrainian pianist and singer. and woman. and lover. and human. and mother and still a little girl with her own fears and dreams

I study music all my life and still I’m searching for my own place, my own sound and lyrics..

Proud to have a classical background 

happy to move on simple but still deep style 

I feel that know we are all moving to a new age. 

Age of art and nature, time with other values.

We all going through the fear and disappointment to create a new ideas for our future life; this phenomenon of pandemic affects all of us, but still we are stronger than it.  

About myself- I’m going out from the voices of people in my head, in their expectations of me, who have been running my life all this time. 

To my own voice, that finally I can hear. 

It’s strong it’s beautiful it’s me . 

and every day Im learning more about myself, about world around me about power of nature and love..