Khaleejiness exhibition at Manarat Al Saadiyat explores Gulf identity through young artists

The exhibition Khaleejiness at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi presents work by 12 young artists examining Gulf citizen identity, running from 31 August to 10 February. Organized by UAE-based publishing collective swalif and inspired by the book Encapsulation Volume One, the show responds to renewed interest in Khaleeji identity following the Qatar diplomatic crisis. The exhibition design includes a section with a sand-filled vitrine featuring double exposures by Emirati artist Shamsa Al Mansoori and sepia collages by Qatari Hamad Al-Fayhani. A second gallery, inspired by Omani photographer Abdulaziz Abdulah Alhosni's work, features hot-pink lighting, rotary telephones, and a bottle installation where visitors write messages of love. Works include Omani Mahmood Al Zadjali's portraits of Balooshi culture and Saudi Khaldoun Khelaifi's The Protector (2021), which depicts a man in traditional ghutra with rainbow gradient patterns. Curator Sarah Al Mheiri explained to The National that telephone elements reference older generations' courtship through poetry. The exhibition has been criticized for overproduction and branding, with QR codes linking to artists' Instagram accounts. Khaleeji identity has evolved from tribal structures to state-defined frameworks, with current generations navigating demographic minority status in UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait.