Dr. Reem EL MUTWALLI
A published author, with five publications and over 30 years of experience in art and cultural heritage.
Since the early 1980s, at the Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi, she has been contributing to the establishment of cultural & art departments; advising on museum displays, leading and driving projects, hosting seminars, undertaking cultural tasks of different capacities, and curating exhibitions.
Dr. El Mutwalli has also worked in an advisory capacity alongside cultural institutions, world-renowned auction houses, and VIP art collectors while maintaining her private costume workshop and interior design consultancy.
She authored both {ZAY} a weekly page in Zahrat al Khaleej, the UAE's first women's lifestyle magazine, which was launched in 1979, and a monthly page on the topic in Harpers Bazaar Arabia.
Reem El Mutwalli
Dr. Mutwalli is a private consultant in Islamic architecture, Interior design, Islamic and Arab art, UAE Heritage.
Her professional activities have included:
1984: BS Interior Design and Fine Arts, USA
1984: In charge of exhibitions for the Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi, UAE
1984: Began the private Art Collection, the Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi, UAE
1984 Curator of the private art collection of H.H. Sh. Mohammed bin Zâyid Âl Nahyân, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi & Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE armed forces and his wife Sh. Salama B. Hamdan Âl Nahyân
1985: Established the art workshop for the Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi
1995: Published «Qasr al Husn», describing the architectural background of forts in Abu Dhabi
1995: Deputy head of the Arts and Exhibitions Department of the Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi
1996: Established the committee of «Ladies of the Cultural Foundation», Abu Dhabi
1996: Established her privately owned costume workshop
1996: Established her privately-owned interior design firm
2005: Member of the Advisory Council, Department of Interior Design, AUD
2006: Specialist and consultant for Abu Dhabi to Christie's International, Dubai, UAE
2007: Ph.D. Islamic Art and Archaeology, SOAS, Uni. of London, UK
2008: Created and Directed the First Abu Dhabi Collectors Program, to accompany Art Paris Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of H.H. Sh. Mohammed bin Zâyid Âl Nahyân, CP of Abu Dhabi.
2008-2009: Created and Directed the Cultural Art Seminars Program for Sh. Salama B. Hamdan, wife of H.H. Sh. Mohammed bin Zâyid Âl Nahyân, CP of Abu Dhabi
2009: Supervised publication of the book «Art my Passion» showcasing the private art collection H.H. Sh. Mohammed bin Zâyid Âl Nahyân, CP of Abu Dhabi and his wife Sh. Salama B. Hamdan Âl Nahyân
2011: Published Sultani, Traditions Renewed: Changes in women's traditional dress in the United Arab Emirates during the reign of Shaykh Zâyid bin Sultân Âl Nahyân, 1966-2004
2012: Published Sadaqah, The first Arabic guide book on Philanthropy
2015: Sultani Exhibit, Evolution of UAE Dress, Launch of Dubai Design District (d3), Dubai
2015: Published the 2nd edition of Sultani, Traditions Renewed: Changes in women's traditional dress in the United Arab Emirates during the reign of Shaykh Zâyid bin Sultân Âl Nahyân, 1966-2004
2017: Sultani, Traditions Renewed, Exhibit at Robinson’s Stores Opening launch, Dubai
2017: Sultani, Traditions Renewed Installation, Fashion Forward, Dubai Design District (d3), Dubai
2018: Founded UK based The Zay Initiative non-profit charity, London
2018: Columnist Zahra al Khaleej Magazin, Abu Dhabi
2018: Columnist Harpers Bazaar Arabia Magazin, Abu Dhabi
2019: The Zay Initiative Exhibition, The Retail Summit, Dubai
2019: Anatomy of Dress, Shindagha Days, Dubai
2020: The Zay Initiative Webinar Series, London
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