“The Journey of Wathiq”… A Book in the Memory of Emirati Theater: A Legacy of Creativity and Pioneering

The book “The Journey of Wathi in two volumes, was published in 2024. It was authored by the renowned writer and international fashion designer Nihad Wathiq Al-Samarrai, who documented the creative and professional biography of her father, the pioneering artist and theater figure Wathiq Abdul Sattar Al-Samarrai—an architect and playwright—who was the first to ignite the stage lights of theater in the United Arab Emirates, leaving a lasting imprint in the memory of Arab and Gulf theatrical heritage.

In this book, Nihad Wathiq narrates her father’s journey from Iraq to Abu Dhabi, documenting a unique story of a young ambitious man who carried his plays and dreams to an Arab land—before stages were even built or audiences assembled. This book is not merely a biography, but a cultural and intellectual reference chronicling the early beginnings of theater in the UAE, from its foundational moments to its flourishing and pioneering stages.

When Wathiq Al-Samarrai arrived at Khor Dubai in 1963 after spending nine days sailing from Basra on a wooden dhow, he carried only his artistic vision, scripts, and a deep belief in the message of art. He immediately set out to build the first theater stage in Sharjah and contributed to the theatrical movement in Abu Dhabi and Dubai by helping to establish theater troupes and organize stage performances—efforts that significantly enriched and spread theatrical culture across the Emirates. He shaped roles from silence and wove full scenes from emptiness.

The Journey of Wathiq transcends the notion of emotional tribute from a daughter to her father; it becomes a cultural project that re-examines the history of Emirati and Gulf theater from the lens of that first light that illuminated the skies of the United Arab Emirates.

✦ Beyond Documentation… A Philosophical Reading

The book moves beyond traditional narrative into a philosophical and historical perspective on time, identity, and theater as a cultural and civilizational act. Nihad reconstructs the scenes as though directing a play from within her memory, rich with nostalgia—yet never compromising on objectivity or precise documentation. She weaves together family history, artistic cultural heritage, and the collective memory of a generation of theater-makers who lived through her father’s era of theatrical brilliance and leadership, ultimately posing a profound question:

> Can a daughter’s nostalgia for her father’s journey serve as a foundation for a historical and cultural reference through her book, “The Journey of Wathiq”?

In The Journey of Wathiq, the answer is: Yes, when it is written through the lens of a perceptive author and the heart of a faithful daughter.

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✦ Theater as an Enlightenment Project

The book showcases Wathiq Al-Samarrai’s experience as a theater artist, playwright, and visionary with a civilizational and enlightening project. As a young Iraqi who crossed the Arabian Gulf carrying his unique ideas and theatrical scripts, he laid the groundwork for dramatic theater in an emerging Gulf Arab society.

He pioneered performances that blended modern Gulf identity with dramatic literary texts. Alongside writing scripts, Wathiq was also a theater director, actor, music supervisor, and producer of radio dramas—imbuing his work with a holistic artistic character. As an architect, he laid the foundations of civilizational architecture and contributed to the planning and construction of public housing, leaving a creative imprint on both modern architectural history and Emirati Arab theater. He is considered one of the early founders of this art in the region.

Among his most notable theatrical works:

1. For My Son

2. Justice

3. Matawah Khamis

4. If the Aunt Loved the Daughter-in-Law, Even the Devil Would Enter Paradise

5. Stretch Your Legs According to Your Blanket

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✦ Unforgettable Documentation… With Consciousness and Voice

The book includes rare archival photographs, original manuscript texts, personal letters, live testimonies, and excerpts from newspapers and magazines that chronicled the experiences of a generation of theater pioneers led by Wathiq Al-Samarrai.

Nihad’s brilliance shines not only as an author but as the guardian of her father’s memory—preserving his legacy with sincerity. She brings his artistic presence back to the forefront of Emirati and Arab culture, granting his journey new life through the pages of The Journey of Wathiq—a work now considered a key reference in the history of Gulf and Emirati theater.

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✦ A Living Testimony to the Journey of an Architect and Theater Author

The Journey of Wathiq is a civilizational vision embodied in a historical literary text and a cultural statement on the philosophy of both Emirati and Iraqi theater. It offers a first light for a stage that still beats with life. It is a book of loyalty to a father’s legacy, a foundational record of dramatic cultural enlightenment theater, and a spark of ever-renewing societal consciousness—written by the daughter of a theater pioneer who turned the stage into a contemporary monument, the shadows into roles, and theatrical performance into an eternal message.

Safirpress _Critical Review by:Donia Sahib Al-Hassani – Iraq