The Ministry of Culture is participating in the 14^th edition of the Gulf Theatre Festival, taking place in Riyadh from September 10-17. The festival will showcase a diverse group of theatre practitioners, artists and critics from various Gulf and Arab countries.

The UAE will be represented by Umm Al Quwain National Theatre, which will present the play ‘Ashofak’ (I See You) on September 12. Written by Ismail Abdullah, directed by Hassan Rajab, and featuring Saeed Salim, Ibrahim Ustadi, Saif Adran, Budoor Al Saei, Dalal Al Sharaibi, and others, the play is inspired by a historical story set in the 1950s. It centers on Jarnas, a night watchman portrayed by Saeed Salim. The performance combines national drama, historical tragedy, and social comedy, depicting the British colonial period in the Arabian Gulf, during which colonial powers sought to suppress local cultures and impose their own.

With a dedicated stand, the Ministry will be displaying a collection of books on the history of theatre in the UAE and representing the Ministry’s commitment to supporting performing arts and theatre. The festival will be honouring Emirati artist Ahmed Al Jasmi for his extensive contributions to theatre and his significant impact at the Gulf and Arab levels.

This year’s festival features a range of events, including six Gulf theatre performances, scientific seminars, critical sessions, artistic and training workshops, and various art exhibitions.

Launched in Kuwait in 1988, the Gulf Theatre Festival is the Gulf’s premier theatre event in the region. The biennial event, hosted by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), showcases multiple theatre performances alongside various cultural and artistic events. It fosters knowledge exchange and intellectual dialogue to enrich the theatre movement among the GCC countries and provides a platform for artists to present their new works.