ME by Meliá Dubai has launched EMIRATI ART AT ME, the first exhibition in its new Medad series, curated by Emirati creative Abdulla Khalid Al Shamsi. The initiative, titled Medad – Edition 1, brings together four multidisciplinary Emirati artists exploring heritage through contemporary mediums.
Medad, which translates to “ink” in Arabic, was conceived as a symbol of cultural legacy and storytelling. The exhibition, set inside the design-led ME by Meliá Dubai, is intended to merge atmosphere and narrative while providing a platform for local talent.
The featured artists are Maitha Abdullah Al Remeithi, Faris Al Hammadi, Elham Khairalla and Dana Hisham Aljneibi. Each artist contributes work that reinterprets traditional themes in unique ways.
Curator Abdulla Khalid Al Shamsi.
Dubai-born Maitha Al Remeithi, a graduate of Zayed University, is a photographer and filmmaker whose work focuses on everyday rituals and fleeting moments. Faris Al Hammadi, founder of Faris Al Hammadi Fine Arts Studio, is known for expressive oil portraits and nature-inspired works rooted in traditional techniques.
Elham Khairalla, a Dubai-based visual artist and co-founder of the Sjadna weaving centre, focuses on reimagining traditional craft to explore themes of femininity, environment and generational legacy. Sharjah-based Dana Hisham Aljneibi uses embroidery as a contemporary visual language, transforming architectural and geometric influences into stitched canvases.
The exhibition is being staged this summer at ME by Meliá Dubai, located in the Opus building in the Burj Khalifa district. The hotel, the only one designed internally and externally by the late architect Zaha Hadid, has 93 rooms and 13 residences. It is known for its striking architecture, luxury amenities and Michelin Hotels recognition.
