Opera Gallery Dubai unveils ‘Al Nayed’ a retrospective dedicated to Abdulqader Al Rais – A Master of modern Emirati art!
Opera Gallery Dubai is proud to present ‘Al Nayed’, a retrospective exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of Abdulqader Al Rais, one of the defining figures of contemporary art in the United Arab Emirates. The exhibition will run from 26 March to 8 April 2026.
Spanning more than five decades, ‘Al Nayed’ traces the evolution of an artist whose work has played a central role in shaping the UAE’s modern visual identity. Bridging heritage and modernity with rare authority, Al Rais’s paintings draw deeply on Emirati heritage, Islamic culture, and the striking interplay between the UAE’s natural landscapes and architecture.
The exhibition brings together seminal works from five of the artist’s celebrated series: Alghaf, inspired by the Ghaf tree, a national symbol of the UAE; Calligraphy (Hurufiyya), where Arabic letters function as visual and spiritual forms; Impressionism, early depictions of UAE landscapes rendered with soft, atmospheric brushstrokes; Alhaa, a distinctive series of watercolour on paper works; and Abstract, which combines geometric elements—most notably Al Rais’s signature squares—with landscape compositions.
“We are honoured to present ‘Al Nayed’ at Opera Gallery—an exhibition offering both a comprehensive and intimate view of the life of one of the UAE’s most influential artists. In celebrating more than five decades of artistic practice, the exhibition also highlights Abdulqader Al Rais’s present and future work, affirming his continued innovation and enduring relevance.”
– Sylvain Gaillard, Director of Opera Gallery Dubai
Additionally, the exhibition will feature rare works from the artist’s private collection and debut a selection of previously unseen new works, underscoring the artist’s continued creative vitality. Seamlessly blending Arabic and Islamic aesthetics with contemporary abstraction, ‘Al Nayed’ captures the cultural transformation of the UAE without nostalgia.
“We are honoured to present ‘Al Nayed’ at Opera Gallery—an exhibition offering both a comprehensive and intimate view of the life of one of the UAE’s most influential artists,” said Sylvain Gaillard, Director of Opera Gallery Dubai. “In celebrating more than five decades of artistic practice, the exhibition also highlights Abdulqader Al Rais’s present and future work, affirming his continued innovation and enduring relevance.”