Arab Network @ Singapore (AN@S) and Motion: For Impact, welcomed members of the diplomatic, cultural, literary and business communities to Threads of Time, at House of Motion on Thursday evening, bringing to life the stories and legacy documented in Arabs of Singapore: 200 Years On, a project undertaken by AN@S.
Held at House of Motion, 24 Ann Siang Road, the intimate gathering explored the longstanding contributions of Singapore’s Arab community through a multisensory evening of conversation, music, scent, food, and hospitality. The event follows the official launch of Arabs of Singapore: 200 Years On in November 2025, officiated by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. It continues the dialogue around the evolving identity and influence of the Arab community in Singapore today.
The evening brought together notable figures whose presence reflects their longstanding contributions to the community, alongside a new generation, including Dr. Ahmad Mattar, Former Minister for the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs of Singapore, and Dr. Syed Harun Alhabsyi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education & Ministry of National Development, among others.
Speaking at the event, Khadijah Alattas, President of Arab Network @ Singapore, shared, “This evening was about continuing the conversation beyond the pages of the book. Two centuries of Arab presence is not history; it’s a story that’s still being written, and written deeply into the fabric of Singapore, across trade, culture, community-building and beyond. We hope tonight’s gathering has created space for deeper appreciation, dialogue and connection through honouring this legacy.”
Hosted under the theme Threads of Time, the programme unfolded through a panel discussion centred on the book chapters of Trade, Feast and Music, reflecting themes explored in the publication and the ways Arab heritage has shaped Singapore’s cultural and social fabric across generations.
Moderated by Dr Catherine Wu, a Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU) lecturer, speaker and facilitator specialising in cultural intelligence, alongside contributors and guest panellists including culture and heritage conservationist Ang Kah Eng, Kelvin; Aziza Ali, former restauranteur, culinary consultant, television personality; and Chapter Writer for Feast, and Dr Larry Francis Hilarian, Professor of Ethnomusicology at the Nanyang Technological University and Chapter Writer for Music, the conversation explored the historical role of Arab merchants in shaping regional exchange, the significance of food and hospitality in preserving cultural memory, and the role of music in fostering connection within cosmopolitan Singapore.
As a sensorial introduction of the panel discussion, guests were treated to a culinary moment inspired by the evening’s themes: the traditional Sambosa, a savoury pastry carrying a blend of spices and aromatics that have travelled for centuries along the same sea routes that brought the Hadhrami Arabs to Singapore’s shores; paired with Kopi Halia, or ginger coffee, a local evolution of the spiced Arab brew adapted over generations to the ingredients of the region. Guests were also welcomed by ambient oud soundscapes, including a live performance by oudist Izzat bin Afiff of Espousal Fusion Entertainment, and a guided scent experience curated by Motion’s in-house aromachologist, Aaliyah Hamdoon, transforming the evening into an immersive reflection on heritage and identity.
The evening also featured live dances of Zafin and Shara by performers Ali San’ani and Fahmi San’ani from The Samrah Club, adding a dynamic cultural beat to the night. Brought to life with rhythm and movement rooted in Arab cultural traditions, the performance underscores the rich diversity and enduring resonance of Arabic artistic expression.
“Singapore’s identity has always been shaped by the many communities who’ve made it home, and the Arab community is among its most enduring threads. At House of Motion, we wanted this evening to do what the book itself set out to do: make the legacy tangible, accessible, felt. Through scent, sound, taste and discourse, we wanted to show that the Arab story isn’t a distant chapter in a history book. It is present in the neighbourhoods we reside in, the food we grew up eating, and the commercial life of this city. This is heritage and culture lived; and tonight, we hope it has been felt and remembered in a deeply human way,” added Juliana Mattar, Founder and CEO of Motion: For Impact.
The event also aimed to extend the visibility of Arabs of Singapore: 200 Years On, while
opening further pathways for cultural exchange and engagement between Singapore and broader Middle Eastern networks.
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