The National Trust issued a statement about proposed spending cuts this week. As a result of expecting to lose nearly £200m in revenue this year, the charity is planning to cut more than £100m (nearly 20 per cent) of its annual expenditure, through greater efficiency savings, and making up to 1,200 members (some 13 per cent) of its staff redundant. The Trust has already announced a recruitment freeze and the deferral of projects amounting to £124m. The organisation’s director general, Hilary McGrady, said, ‘We are going through one of the biggest crises in living memory…and like so many other organisations the National Trust has been hit very hard.’ The plan for budget cuts and proposed redundancies is now subject to a 45-day consultation period.
As the cultural landscape of the Middle East continues to evolve, Abu Dhabi is preparing to unveil one of its most anticipated artistic milestones. On 11 December 2026, the long-awaited Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will officially open its doors, marking a transformative moment not only for the UAE but also for the international art world.