Knowledge Circle

The Gulf Crossroads

Speakers: Alia Al Shamsi, Prof. Peter Magee, Prof. Timothy Power
Chair: Prof. William Zimmerle
Time: 9:30 – 10:30
Language: English

How much did the Arab world interact amongst each other and beyond? Did Egyptian officials thousands of years ago ever pass through the Gulf? Did a French perfumer ever stop over in Oman for a sojourn? Were these intersections of cultures documented? And what effect did these interactions have on each nation? Was there an exchange of best practices, policies and laws amongst communicating nations? Has historical diplomacy influenced the economies of these nations?

Alia Al Shamsi is an author, artist and a former adjunct faculty at the American University of Sharjah. She has taught photography and has work experiences in journalism and in the arts and culture sector across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. She currently works at the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Prof. Peter Magee is currently the Director of the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi. He has over 25 years of experience in researching and promoting the cultural heritage of the United Arab Emirates and Arab world.

Prof. Timothy Power is an associate professor of archaeology at United Arab University, Abu Dhabi. Over the years, he has worked on the history and archaeology of many notable sites in the Emirates, including Qasr al-Muwaij‘i, al-Ain Museum, Qasr al-Hosn and Hatta Dam.

Prof William Zimmerle is currently a faculty member of the Humanities Research Institute for the Study of the Arab World, and Senior Lecturer in Heritage and Ancient World at NYUAD. He is also a Special Advisor-Lecturer at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Graduate School of Public and Global Affairs where he teaches World Heritage and Climate Change seminars to diplomatic staff at the United Nations. He directs Ra’eha رائحة : The Digital Heritage Library of Arabian Incense, Perfumes, and Fragrances at NYUAD.

Enlightenment by Information

Speakers: Abdulrahman Alzaabi, Dr Ahmed Al Shoaibi, Mahnaz Fancy
Moderator: Sanam Yaqub
Time: 12:00 – 13:00
Language: English

How are education systems formed based on historical data? How are gaps identified and what determines these decisions? Why are archival systems important for the youth? What other ways are being appointed in disseminating knowledge to expatriates and the watching world?

In this session, academics & scholars from a social and humanities background and young Emiratis who have taken their own social responsibility of sharing knowledge and culture answer these questions, creating a compelling juxtaposition to their collective voices.

Abdulrahman Alzaabi, a US graduate with two academic degrees in engineering, is an Emirati tour guide sharing the local culture from Abu Dhabi. He currently works at HALCON Systems and in the past has worked at Abu Dhabi Government Media Office, ADNOC, and Masdar.

Dr Ahmed Al Shoaibi is the Professor of Chemical Engineering and Dean of Academic Affairs at the Petroleum Institute, Khalifa University. He is also the Acting Executive Director for Higher Education at Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK).

Mahnaz Fancy is a cultural studies scholar turned arts advisor with over 20 years of leadership roles in building US and UAE-based institutions engaged in the development of the MENASA cultural ecosystem. She is currently Principal Art Researcher at the UAE Ministry of Culture.

Sanam Yaqub is an educator, executive coach and mentor, with extensive teaching and leadership experience working within the UK and UAE education sectors. She is currently the School Partnership Strategies Manager at the University of Birmingham Dubai as well as the EDI lead for the campus. She is currently a member of the senior leadership team at the University of Birmingham Dubai, leading on Equality Diversity and Inclusion and on Strategic Partnership with schools across the UAE.

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