Gems from Al Noon Residence Collection
Artworks by Najat Makki, Khaled Ben Sulimane, and Ali Hassan
Exhibition Duration
August 14 – September 14, 2025
Location: Kutubna Cultural Center, Nadd Al Hamar, Dubai
Admission: Free entry - No booking required
About The Exhibition
This exhibition features 17 paintings selected from Al Noon Residence collection; the display highlights significant works from the Gulf region. It includes but is not limited to landscapes, abstract works, collage and calligraphy by three celebrated Arab artists.
Art enthusiasts can look forward to exploring works by Najat Makki (first Emirati woman to receive a PhD in the philosophy of art), Khaled Ben Slimane, and Ali Hassan.
About The Artists
Najat Makki (b. 1956) is an Emirati artist best known for her curiosity for color and dreamlike, abstracted depictions of the natural landscape in the UAE. She has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Relief Sculpture and Metal from Helwan University in Cairo, where she also received her PhD in the philosophy of art in 2001. She was the first Emirati woman to be awarded a government scholarship to study art abroad in 1977. Makki’s artwork has been exhibited widely and extensively. Some highlights include the Beijing International Biennial (China, 2016), ADMAF’s Portrait of a Nation (Abu Dhabi, 2016; Berlin, 2017), National Pavilion UAE, Venice Biennial (Italy, 2015), The Luxor International Symposium of Photography (Egypt, 2014), Book Fair Exhibition, Frankfurt (Germany 2004), and Tehran Biennial (Iran, 2002). Dr. Najat Makki was bestowed the distinction of France’s “Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” (Order of the Arts and the Letters) as Chevalier by the French Ministry of Culture.
Khaled Ben Slimane (b. 1951) is a ceramicist, sculptor and painter who uses letters, words, and Qur’anic verses to create art with spiritual elements. Ben Slimane graduated from the Technological Institute of Art in Tunis in 1977 before continuing his training in Spain at the Escola Massana in Barcelona. From 2004-05, he held a residency at the Idemitsu Museum of Arts in Tokyo, Japan. The recipient of numerous awards, including the 2002 Grand Prize in Vietri Sul Mare in Italy and National Cultural Prize in Tunis, Ben Slimane has artwork in museums worldwide, including the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC and the British Museum of Art.
Ali Hassan (b. 1975) was born in Doha, Qatar, and is one of Qatar’s most celebrated artists. He is known for his semi-abstract mixed media compositions (watercolor, pencil, and even ceramic) art works. He focuses on a single letter, fascinated by the Arabic letter ن. For over 20 years he used it in his art. He is a self-taught artist who graduated with a degree from Qatar University in 1982. He worked as a calligrapher for several local newspapers. His first exhibition was at the luxurious Sheraton Hotel in Doha. He then began his career in contemporary Arab art. Ali’s earliest works were black and white Arabic calligraphy, lithographs on paper, mainly showing suras from the Qur’an, Arabic poetry, and passages from the book One Thousand and One Arabian Nights. Ali Hassan served as the former chairman of the Youth Creative Art Centre and the Girls’ Creativity Art Centre, both in Doha. In 2009, Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar honored him with a retrospective. He lives and works in Doha.
You can read more about the collection HERE
About Al Noon Residence
Al Noon Residence is a one-of-a-kind apartment complex featuring modern amenities and artistic design elements. It is the first real estate property in the UAE to incorporate contemporary Arabic art in every part of the building, including each apartment’s design.
We look forward to welcoming you!