Abdul Qader Al Rais is a renowned artist from the United Arab Emirates widely recognized as one of the country’s most iconic painters. Despite being self-taught, he has skillfully captured the landscapes and customs of his homeland in his works. In his early career, Abdul Qader depicted realistic portrayals of Emirati architecture, coastlines, fishing boats, and landscapes.
His later works reflected political themes, particularly with regard to the struggles of Palestine in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He later transitioned to a unique blend of calligraphy and abstraction, focusing on the contours of Arabic letters which has now become his signature style.
As a founding member of the Emirates Fine Arts Society, Abdul Qader has had retrospectives of his extensive artistic career showcased at various art institutions, including the Sharjah Art Museum and the Institut du Monde Arabe. He was also featured in the UAE Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale, and his work can be found in prestigious collections such as The British Museum, the Louvre, and the Museum of Modern Art in New Delhi. Abdul Qader’s artistic creations have also been exhibited at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, and his public murals adorn the Dubai Airport and the Dubai Metro.
The contributions of Abdul Qader Al Rais to the arts have been acknowledged with numerous accolades, including the Sheikh Khalifa Prize for Art and Literature in Abu Dhabi, the Golden Palm Award at the Gulf Cooperation Council Art Exhibition in Doha, and the Sultan Al Owais Award for Scientific Studies and Creativity in Dubai, among others.