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Alia draws inspiration from sand dunes

ABU DHABI — Emirati artist Alia Meqdad Al Suwaidi drew inspiration from the sculptural shape of the sand dunes in designing the trophy for the prestigious The President of the UAE Cup Series.

Dubbed ‘The Original Arabian Purebred Classic Series,’ the Series, started by the Late President Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan back in 1994, will race at six race venues across Europe and the USA. It will race at The Curragh in Ireland, Keeneland, USA, Newmarket, Ascot, Paris and Moscow.

The 2010 Series is being held upon the instructions from His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF) are organising the Series. The Series is being supported by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), Office of the Brand of Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways and Flash Entertainment. “We want to showcase our culture to people around the world. I drew inspiration from the sand dunes. I incorporated that in the trophy,” Alia Meqdad Al Suwaidi, a member of the design department at the Office of the Brand of Abu Dhabi (OBAD), said during the announcement of the racing calendar for the 2010 season.

Her role includes developing brand logos and visual identities for various Abu Dhabi organisations and events. “My aim was to incorporate a recognizable aspect of Emirati culture into the look of the Cup. It was inspired by the sculptural shape of the remarkable sand dunes found here in the deserts of the United Arab Emirates,” said Alia, who is a graduate from the American University of Sharjah.

The trophy will be awarded to the winning horse owners of the six The President of the UAE Cup Series races. “As the profile of Abu Dhabi continues to grow internationally, our role is to ensure that the essence of Abu Dhabi is reflected in the visual identities of our organisations. We think the Cup design has local significance and yet will still resonate with global audiences with its modern appeal,” Reem al Shemari, General Manager of the Office of the Brand of Abu Dhabi (OBAD) said.

The logo links the Emirate’s longstanding relationship with Arabian horses to the contemporary look of the Abu Dhabi brand. OBAD has been working with the EEF since last year to create the new visual identity for the Series.

james@khaleejtimes.com