Al-Mhbra
One talk. One idea. One room.
An evening series built on perspective. One speaker, one way of seeing the world, and a room full of curious people, over coffee across the UAE. For thought-provokers and curious minds.
By the community, for the community.
من المجتمع، للمجتمعAl-Mhbra المحبرة
Al-mihbara is Arabic for the inkwell: the vessel every scholar dipped into before writing something of their own. Everyone draws from the same source. What each person makes of it is theirs.
That is the evening. One talk shared by the room, and a dialogue that every guest takes somewhere new.
al-mihbara (n.): the inkwell; the place the writing begins.
A thought. An explanation. A dialogue.
Each evening takes something everyone thinks is modern, obvious or settled, and shows you why it isn’t. One speaker who knows a subject properly, and a room that leaves seeing something ordinary differently.
The speakers come from the community. What matters is a perspective worth hearing, explained well, and a room willing to answer back.
Curious ideas, and the people and perspectives behind them.
An evening, start to finish.
Each evening is hosted with a partner space across the UAE. The speaker is filmed; guests only with their consent.
- ArriveCoffee, and the people you came to meet.
- OpenPhones down. The host opens the evening.
- The talkOne speaker, one idea.
- The roomQuestions, challenges, conversation.
- The closeThe last question, asked of every speaker:
What do you believe that most people in this room don’t?
The room is built by the people in it.
Every speaker is proposed by the community. If you have an idea worth a room’s full attention, or know someone who does, this is the door.
Give a talk
Tell us the idea in one sentence. If it changes how a room sees something, we’ll call you.
Propose a talk →Put someone forward
The sharpest mind you know in the UAE. A name and one line on why is enough.
Nominate a speakerHost with us
A space with character, anywhere in the UAE. Let’s build an evening together.
CollaborateFour simple ones.
Register your interest.
Register your interest and we’ll let you know when the next evening opens. Those with us from the beginning become the founding members. We’ll ask for:
- Your name, email and mobile
- What you do, in one line
- An idea you’d like to hear argued