The Art Maze – the first-ever art exhibition at the iconic Burj Al Arab Jumeirah’s famous helipad – is being held from March 23 to March 27.
The show offers a new immersive art gallery experience. Hosted by artists Marcus Schaefer and Sacha Jafri, The Art Maze displays 30 oil and acrylic paintings that are inspired by 30 World Heritage Sites. UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The helipad is suspended 212 metres above sea level and has hosted a number of sporting and cultural events.
‘The Art Maze’ showcases 30 original paintings of Jafri that depict World Heritage Sites in a custom built 12-metre by 12-metre steel labyrinthine designed by Schaefer.
The Art Maze is an invite-only event for VIPs, celebrities, entrepreneurs, HNWI and art collectors.
The launch of the exhibition on the helipad sets off ‘The Art Maze World Tour’. The show will travel all across the globe over the next 24 months.
Schaefer said: “With this heartfelt project, I want to raise awareness, especially in uncertain times with a global pandemic and political instabilities, to remind and honour all people about the beauty of our world, nature, man-made monuments.”
Jafri said: “My vision and inspiration for my artworks for The Art Maze stems from the beauty, the spirit, the history and the anthropology of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Trying to depict the emotion of a culture, a building, a story, a vista, and most importantly, an energy, all inspired me to create this collection which is so special, almost spiritual and otherworldly. It has been an honour for me to celebrate these sites as part of UNESCO’s 50th Anniversary of World Heritage.”
Pedestrians in Abu Dhabi are being reminded to use designated bridges, tunnels and crossings to stay safe and help reduce road accidents, according to Abu Dhabi Police.
The advisory comes as part of GCC Traffic Week 2026, held under the theme “I Cross Safely,” which focuses on improving road safety awareness across the region.
Officials warned that crossing roads from undesignated areas remains a high-risk behaviour, putting both pedestrians and drivers in danger, especially on busy roads where vehicles may not be able to stop in time.
Pedestrian crossings in place
Authorities highlighted that the UAE’s road network includes well-equipped pedestrian bridges, tunnels and marked crossings, designed to ensure safe and smooth movement across major roads.
Shared responsibility
Police are urging residents and visitors alike to follow traffic rules and act responsibly, stressing that road safety depends on collective efforts from both pedestrians and motorists.
For residents, the message is simple: use the right crossing points to stay safe and avoid unnecessary risks.
The US Mission to the UAE has advised American expats in the country to remain alert following warnings of potential aerial threats.
The guidance comes after alerts issued by the UAE Ministry of Interior, with officials confirming that recent aerial threats were successfully intercepted.
A Level 3 Reconsider Travel advisory from the US Department of State remains in place, urging citizens to exercise increased caution while in the country.
Embassy operations continue with adjustments
The US Embassy Abu Dhabi and Consulate in Dubai remain open but are operating with reduced staffing under an ordered departure status, with non-essential personnel temporarily relocated.
Routine visa services are currently suspended, although emergency consular services remain available.
What US expats should know?
Authorities have encouraged citizens to stay informed through official channels and be prepared to follow safety instructions if needed, including temporary shelter-in-place measures.
Precautionary advice includes:
Staying away from windows during incidents
Keeping basic emergency supplies ready
Maintaining communication with family members
Officials say the situation is being closely monitored, with further updates expected as needed. UAE authorities have emphasised that response systems are active and effective, with safety remaining a top priority.
Passport services at Pakistani missions in the UAE have resumed, bringing relief to thousands of expats affected by a recent outage.
The Consulate General of Pakistan and Embassy of Pakistan confirmed that passport services are now fully operational as of Tuesday, May 5.
The disruption, which lasted around eight days, was caused by a technical fault at the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI & P) headquarters in Islamabad, leading to a temporary suspension of passport services at missions abroad from April 29.
What should applicants do now?
Officials have advised applicants to visit embassies and consulates during designated service hours to complete passport applications and renewals.
Wider impact across the Gulf
The outage affected Pakistani missions across multiple countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait, leaving many unable to process documents during the disruption.
Pakistanis expats can now move forward, easing pressure for those needing urgent travel or documentation.
