Art - you can’t beat it, but, you can burn it, which is what Pablo Picasso, the father of post-modern paintings did to keep himself warm as a struggling artist. I bring this to your attention because many of the paintings that survived his own personal conflagration can be seen for the first time in the UAE in Abu Dhabi - a superb treat for the thousands of art lovers across the Emirates.

Picasso had his first exhibition at the tender age of 13 - albeit in the back room of an umbrella store - so during his full 90 plus years he managed an odd masterpiece or two. In fact a total of 186 works will be displayed at the Gallery One of Emirates Palace until September, many of which are said to display the connection that Spain has with the Arabic world, especially the south of the country.

Abu Dhabi is setting itself up as the art capital of the Middle East which means we should get more of these kinds of treats. It is a massive coup for the capital to have pulled this off - Abu Dhabi is the second city and the only Middle Eastern venue on a nine nation tour which kicked off in Madrid.

Personally, I am hoping a Saatchi tour comes next. Anyone who has seen one of Maurice Saatchi’s more challenging collections - with old favourites such as the Chapman Brothers, Damian Hirst, and Tracey Emin thrown in - would love to see how Picasso’s siblings thrice removed would go down in the region.

Sponsored by the Tourism and Development Investment Company (TDIC) and Mubadala Development Company, the exhibition runs between May 27-September 4. The exhibition is open 10am-10pm everyday with Tuesdays 10am-4pm reserved for women only.

There will be an informal, multi media evening called Artscape on the 17 June.

For more information you can call 02 6908206.