Nada Ammagui

Research Associate, AGSIW

Nada Ammagui is a research associate (politics, society, and culture) at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington whose interests include artistic and cultural spaces in Gulf countries, particularly the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, contemporary Arab art, and cultural diplomacy in the region. Ammagui graduated from New York University Abu Dhabi in 2020 with a BA in Arab crossroads studies and minors in art history and Arabic and is currently a second-year MA student in Arab studies at Georgetown University.

Before joining AGSIW, Ammagui was a postgraduate research fellow in the arts and humanities at NYU Abu Dhabi conducting quantitative, geospatial research on the Sharjah Biennial (UAE) to investigate the prioritization of local cultural initiatives by the Sharjah government. She also wrote periodic articles on regional cultural matters for Global Art Daily and digital humanities research on her own blog. Ammagui’s previous experience includes internships in the Islamic art department at the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism in the Education and Outreach department.

Millennial Gulf content-type in which the post is published

Charting a Path for Cycling the Arab World

Kuwaiti cyclist Abdulrahman Alkhamees hopes to make Arab countries the world’s newest cycling destinations while encouraging audiences to learn about local riders.

Millennial Gulf content-type in which the post is published

Home of Khaleeji Hip Hop and R&B: Bahrain in the Gulf Music Scene

To Bahraini music producer Sarah Nabil, khaleeji hip hop and R&B are all about the grooves native to Arab cultural heritage and a language that is relatable.

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Sandstorm Comics: Building a Local Comic Book Industry

Entrepreneur and creative Mo Abedin launched Sandstorm Comics as a dedicated comic book production studio, educational space, and community site to fill a gap in the UAE’s creative industry.

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Constructing Mars in Kuwait: Young Kuwaitis Lead Space Sector Development

Lama Al-Oraiman, a winner of this year’s Emerging Space Leaders award, pushes for more space education in Kuwait, the development of a local space strategy, and the increased participation of women in the field.

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Probing Social Pressures With Textiles and Ice Cream

Emirati artist Maitha Hamdan, featured in a UAE Embassy exhibition in DC situating women in the intimate space of the majlis, uses video performance to explore the more public social restrictions imposed on women.

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Qatar's World Cup and Public Art: Expanding the Field of Dialogue

As Qatar gears up to host the FIFA World Cup in November, Qatar Museums is ensuring that visitors get a taste of the country’s cultural scene through new public art installations.

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The Knot: Putting Young Emiratis at the Forefront of Memory Preservation and Storytelling

Founded by an Emirati cultural educator, The Knot reimagines how international visitors and local residents alike can learn about the UAE’s history and traditions.

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Oman Debuts at the 59th Venice Biennale With “Destined Imaginaries”

Oman is participating in the International Biennale of Arts in Venice with a multimedia group show highlighting the country’s conceptual art scene.

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Creating Space and Access: Literary Communities and Collectives in the UAE

Emirati poet, writer, and artist Shamma Al Bastaki combines her interests in art making and literature to promote UAE-based authors.