Gone are the days when learning about Middle Eastern culture as a foreigner came from orientalist books written by white male explorers. The explosion of the internet and social media has given rise to an abundance of online creative platforms inspired by and celebrating Arab culture.
In the following list you’ll find a mixture of different platforms ranging from traditional media outlets to inherently modern and dynamic projects, sharing arts and culture from across the Arab world.
Dardishi
Dardishi is a community-focused online magazine and arts festival showcasing the contributions of Middle Eastern and North African womxn to contemporary art and culture. In 2020, Dardishi played a key role in educating Arabs and non-Arabs alike about how they can be better allies to people of colour in the Middle East and beyond.
Don’t miss:
- Arabs for Black Power: A Reading List for Non-Black Arab Allies
- 18 decolonial questions to ask when in an art gallery or museum
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
A household name, having been established in Dubai over a decade ago, Harpers is among the leading luxury fashion, beauty and lifestyle magazines in the Middle East. The magazine brings together the best of Middle Eastern high fashion, featuring the hottest designers, models and brands from across the region.
Don’t miss:
- Children of the Evolution: The New Saudi Fashion Collective Reimagining the Abaya
- 3 Arab Women Leading the Sustainability Revolution in the Middle East
Al-Madaniya
Al Madaniya is a digital platform for Yemeni art, culture and civil society. At a time when most online coverage of Yemen is focused on the war, Al Madaniya is a breath of fresh air, showing that Yemen is so much more than the headlines of conflict and geopolitics. The platform is a true celebration of Yemeni humanity and creativity.
Don’t miss:
- The Eastern Perfume Route: Scents from Yemen
- Voices from the Forgotten War: an Interview with Yemeni Author Bushra Al-Maqtari
Reconnecting Art
Reconnecting Art provides a platform for emerging Arab artists and creatives to share their work with the rest of the world and tell their stories. Their brilliant and quirky contributions provide a lens into the lives of young Arabs growing up during a time of transformation for their region, reconciling traditional ideas of culture and heritage with the dynamic and connected world of the 21st century. It’s the Middle East as you’ve never seen it.
Don’t miss
- Saudi artist Khalid AlQahtani on underrepresentation and expected gender roles
- Fantastic creatures, legends and tales: introducing the art of Sheikha AlShamsi
Scene Arabia
Scene Arabia is a network of platforms covering a massive array of topics from culture, society, film and music to lifestyle, money, feminism and sexuality. Scene is like the beating heart of the Middle East, fearless and unwavering in its commitment to tackling subjects still deemed by many in the region to be taboo.
Don’t miss:
- Nation building and legacies of slavery: The intersections of being black and Arab in the Gulf
- Sarah Bahbah’s new project ‘3eib’ is a reclamation of her body, sexuality and ‘Western Arab identity’
Sekka Mag
Sekka Mag is a magazine aiming to become the leading voice for the youth of the Arab Gulf States, with a focus on art, culture and creativity. With its finger always on the pulse, Sekka offers a lens into the human stories behind the massive changes taking place in the region – as told by the people living them.
Don’t miss
- Experiencing Edward Said’s Orientalism in action
- How Marwa Al Kalbani challenges stereotypes about niqabis through photography
Under the Abaya
Under the Abaya is a digital platform and book celebrating women’s street style in Saudi Arabia. The platform allows Saudi women to share their stories and their style, empowering others to push boundaries and achieve their potential. It also highlights to foreigners – who are often exposed to problematic misconceptions the Kingdom – the diversity and power of Saudi women.
Vogue Arabia
Based in Dubai, Vogue Arabia is the global fashion powerhouse’s Middle Eastern platform and magazine. The magazine celebrates all things fashion, art and culture in the Middle East, shedding light on how cultural heritage has come to shape fashion in the region with a particular focus on the Gulf.
Don’t miss:
- The Fascinating and Colourful History behind Saudi Arabia’s Bedouin Fashion
- 5 Female Qatari Artists to Have on Your Radar
Watan Palestine
Watan Palestine is a US-based arts shop that aims to provide a space for Palestinians around the world to learn about and explore their cultural heritage. Watan – which translates to ‘homeland’ – features Palestinian art in all its forms, from photography to tatreez (traditional Palestinian cross-stitch), with an inherently powerful political message encouraging Palestinians to embrace their identity and agency.
Don’t miss:
Yemen Cultural Institute for Heritage and the Arts
YCIHA exists to bring together Yemen-focused artists, scholars, archaeologists and diplomats for the purpose of preserving and protecting the country’s artistic heritage. YCIHA provides a platform for diverse artistic expressions, celebrating a side to Yemen that is often overlooked as a result of the ongoing conflict and humanitarian tragedy.
Follow YCIHA on Instagram
The Zay Initiative
The Zay Initiative: The Art of Arab Dress is a not-for-profit initiative founded by Dr Reem Al-Mutawalli that exists to preserve cultural heritage in the Middle East through the collection, documentation and digital archiving of Arab historical attire and their stories. The initiative expresses the historical diversity of Arab dress and highlights the designers, artists and creatives using dress and fashion as a way of expressing their cultural identity and heritage today.
Don’t miss:
What did we miss?! We are always on the lookout for Middle Eastern platforms and projects we didn’t know about – let us know your favourites in the comments below!