The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has launched the animated series "Badr Al-Masahir", produced in collaboration with Emirati director Hayder Mohammed. The initiative aims to celebrate Emirati culture, values, customs, and traditions associated with the holy month of Ramadan, and to foster a sense of belonging and community cohesion. The series is part of Dubai Culture's support for the "Ramadan in Dubai" campaign, which falls under the "Al-Wulfa" initiative, aimed at strengthening family bonds and celebrating Emirati community and cultural occasions. The animated series, which blends science fiction with Emirati heritage, revolves around "Badr", who lives with his parents in a scientific settlement on the moon's surface. Director Hayder Mohammed expressed his happiness about collaborating with Dubai Culture and the support and trust they have shown in the project. The animated series "Badr Al-Masahir" contributes to showcasing the richness of cultural and social heritage and reflects Dubai Culture's efforts to create a stimulating creative environment that supports the arts of animation and visual storytelling, providing an innovative platform capable of empowering local talents and motivating them to express their creativity and aspirations in celebration of the holy month of Ramadan, thereby enhancing the growth of Dubai's cultural and creative industries. The series consists of 15 episodes. It revives the popular heritage and presents it to future generations in a style close to their interests, which is a cultural and artistic responsibility at the same time. The series also recreates the atmosphere of Dubai's "Fareej" (traditional neighborhoods) with its features, dialects, and warm social spirit, reflecting the depth of bonds among members of the local community, while also emphasizing the importance of balancing authenticity with development by presenting customs and traditions in a contemporary spirit that ensures their continuity as an integral part of the Emirati cultural identity. Shamma Rashid Al-Suwaidi, Executive Director of Arts, Design, and Literature at Dubai Culture, stated that animated series inspired by local heritage serve as a bridge linking the new generation to its roots and authentic cultural identity, thanks to their ability to document the stories and symbols associated with the "Al-Wulfa" season in an innovative visual style that resonates with the aspirations of the youth. She highlighted the importance of the "Badr Al-Masahir" series and its role in raising awareness of the social values linked to the month of Ramadan. "The new series is a qualitative addition to the local creative landscape, as it reflects the innovative ideas and high capabilities of Emirati talents in producing creative content that draws inspiration from the traditions of the holy month and re-presents them in a contemporary spirit that expresses the essence of cohesion and Emirati identity," she said. Director Hayder Mohammed mentioned that the "Badr Al-Masahir" series aims to connect the new generation with the spirit of the "Fareej" and the warm atmosphere of Ramadan, full of "Al-Wulfa" (cohesion). He affirmed that the project highlights the idea that development does not mean abandoning our heritage, but can be a new way to revive and pass it on to future generations. "The series is a revival of popular heritage and its presentation to future generations in a style close to their interests, which is a cultural and artistic responsibility at the same time," he added. "Especially today, we need works aimed at families and children that introduce them to the details of our customs and traditions and re-present them in a contemporary visual language that combines entertainment and cultural value." With the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan, "Badr" returns to his "Fareej" in Dubai to live with his grandmother, seeking to revive the "Al-Masahir" tradition after his grandfather was the last to perform it in the city. Through his grandfather's tools—"Tabila", "Fanar", and "Khizarna"—"Badr" succeeds in gathering the children of the neighborhood to recite folk songs with him, in scenes that reflect the spirit of Ramadan cohesion. The "Badr Al-Masahir" series, consisting of 15 episodes and broadcast on the Dubai Culture YouTube channel, addresses a variety of topics within an innovative entertainment format capable of capturing the attention of audiences of all age groups. It sheds light on the "Al-Masahir" figure as an authentic Ramadan symbol in popular memory, recalling its social presence, rituals, and traditional tools through a modern vision that aligns with the aspirations of the new generation.
