Huawei partners with Emirati artist “Mahmood Al-Abadi” to promote Middle Eastern cultural heritage

Huawei has partnered with Emirati Artist “Mahmood Al-Abadi” to develop a unique collection of Arabian-inspired designs for HUAWEI Themes, the pre-installed software for Huawei smartphones that enables customizable themes, text styles, and backgrounds.

Mahmoud Al Abadi is a dedicated artist who has spent the past 16 years attempting to unlock the secrets of Arabic calligraphy. He also has a broad background in art, including graphic design, fine art, and sculpture. He’s on a quest to bring the hidden beauty of Arabic calligraphy to the public eye through various art schools and mediums. Many of his works of art are today owned by UAE business people, government officials, and private entities.

His work has been featured in numerous art exhibitions throughout the region, as well as numerous prominent collaborations, particularly in the hospitality industry.

The major goal of this collaboration, for both Huawei and the artist, is to promote the rich tapestry of Arabian culture and to highlight the region’s legacy and spirit through digital art. Lu Geng, Vice President of the Middle East and Africa, Huawei Global Partnerships & Eco-Development, said: “We are pleased to be working with Mr. Mahmood Al-Abadi. We combine his creative talent and our mobile technology to offer more innovative and modern ways to promote the art and local culture of the Middle East. I can’t wait for our users to discover the stunning pieces that embody this region’s beautiful culture and history on HUAWEI Themes”.

Using patterns of Arabic calligraphy in bright hues, the artist has created a series of ten artworks that capture the beauty of local architecture and historical moments that make Arab nations proud. Mahmood Al-Abadi said: “What I like the most about this project is the idea of using technology and digital art to promote our culture to a wider audience. Today, art needs to be shared and promoted via modern ways and channels that speak to the youngest generation. Nothing makes me more happy and proud than joining Huawei in this project to share Arabian-inspired themes to all Huawei users across the Middle East and North Africa.”

Huawei’s HUAWEI Themes app strives to provide users with a diverse choice of screen customising options to suit their preferences, as well as the most relevant themes to appeal to their local culture and rekindle their emotions. Simultaneously, Huawei deployed internal resources and specific incentive programmes to encourage designers in order to mobilise their creativity, increase their visibility, and achieve greater quality Themes. Mahmood Al-Abadi added: “from creation, planning, art digitalization to testing into devices, Huawei team has been amazing, and without their continued support throughout the whole process, we couldn’t achieve these fabulous results.”

Users in the Middle East and North Africa region can now download the newly introduced HUAWEI Themes showcasing Arabian heritage: United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Pakistan, Lebanon, and Algeria. The watch faces are available on Huawei’s latest flagship HUAWEI WATCH 3 Pro smartwatch, while the themes are available on all Huawei smartphones running EMUI 10 or higher.