The Sandy Times

What Is ‘Between Us Boys’ — And Who Is Behind It?

Sounds like a secret club — but it is not. Or is it?

by Alexandra Mansilla

15 Apr 2025

Kurdish + Dutch = CHAMOS: The DJ Duo Blending Two Worlds Into One Sound

From Erbil to Amsterdam — both literally and musically

by Alexandra Mansilla

14 Apr 2025

Food

Restaurants

To Be a Chef: Full Femininity, No Apologies. Interview With Sara Aqel

How a girl from Jordan became a respected, recognised chef — against all odds

by Alexandra Mansilla

10 Apr 2025

Art Dubai

Art Dubai 2025 Talks: Art Dubai Modern, the Section Where SWANA Meets Latin America

Who is showing their work — and what are they talking about? We turned to the curators for answers

by Alexandra Mansilla

1 Apr 2025

Baloo: ‘I Can’t Wait To See Saudi Develop Its Own Signature Sound’

The Saudi scene has grown fast, but is there still something missing?

by Alexandra Mansilla

30 Mar 2025

The Sound Researcher: Meet Safeya Alblooshi, Sonic Ethnographer

Ever wondered what each Emirate sounds like? Find out in this piece

by Alexandra Mansilla

28 Mar 2025

Music

Who Is Najm, And Why Does He Wear a Mask? The Artist Tells Us Himself

From the bottom to Times Square — the story of a Moroccan artist paving his way entirely on his own

by Alexandra Mansilla

26 Mar 2025

Pablo del Val: ‘Art Dubai Has Always Been About Discovery’

What themes are artists diving into for the art fair we are all eagerly waiting for?

by Alexandra Mansilla

24 Mar 2025

Photography

Unseen Saudi Arabia With Ibrahim Sarhan: Bedouins, Hidden Places, And Untold Stories

What places in Saudi has he discovered, and what is it like to photograph Bedouins?

by Alexandra Mansilla

23 Mar 2025

Jamal Masarwa: "Becoming a Well-Known Artist Takes Time, But I Have No Plans To Give Up"

Discovering the journey of a Palestinian digital artist — his highs and lows, big wins, and ambitious future plans

by Barbara Yakimchuk

21 Mar 2025

Art Dubai

Art Dubai 2025 Talks: What To Expect At Art Dubai Digital

Let's hear it directly from the section's curator, Gonzalo Herrero Delicado

by Alexandra Mansilla

18 Mar 2025

Art Dubai 2025 Talks: Mirjam Varadinis On BAWWABA, 'A Section About Discovery'

Let us hear from the curator of the section about what to look out for at Art Dubai

by Alexandra Mansilla

14 Mar 2025

Razan Seikaly: “I Have Met So Many Artists Who Deserve To Be Showcased”

The journey of a woman turning her home into a gallery, offering local and international artists a space to be seen

by Barbara Yakimchuk

14 Mar 2025

Many Facets Of Voice, Many Stories It Tells: Meet Saudi Artist DJ Mubarak

From a guy who started by recording covers and passionately writing his own songs to achieving global recognition

by Alexandra Mansilla

13 Mar 2025

Who Is Behind Future Bedouin? Meet the Artist Creating Magic With AI (And Beyond)

Sink into her airy landscapes, where Arabic heritage is seamlessly wrapped in modernity

by Alexandra Mansilla

7 Mar 2025

Fatspatrol: ‘When I Paint Big, I Feel Like a Superhero’

Let us explore the stories Fatspatrol’s murals tell

by Alexandra Mansilla

6 Mar 2025

Illustrator Of Hopes And Dreams. Interview With Yasmina Keyrouz

And why is Yasmina so obsessed with drawing eyes? Let’s dive into her story

by Alexandra Mansilla

2 Mar 2025

The Artist Who Calls Us To Wake Up: Interview With Karim Jabbari

The intersection of heritage and modernity through calligraphy and light

by Sophie She

1 Mar 2025

Lana Lubany: From a Big Dream To 49 Million Streams

Diving into the story of rising star — Arabic singer and songwriter whose voice bridges the West and the Middle East

by Barbara Yakimchuk

28 Feb 2025