Abu Dhabi is a metropolis of refined revelations. Beneath the gloss of its skyline there’s a inventive spirit that runs deeper. In Do You Have Any Recommendations?, photographer Anaïs Gallagher explores the town by way of the individuals who form it. Artists, entrepreneurs and guides every supply a distinct lens, revealing a model of Abu Dhabi that’s grounded, inventive and quietly trendy.
It begins at Region, Abu Dhabi’s first idea area, half café and half group hub in Mina Zayed. Founded by Johara Saeed and Alanoud Mohamed, it’s constructed round espresso, curation and connection. “The coffee is part of the culture we’re creating here,” Mohamed says. “It’s hospitality, storytelling and community.” Their area additionally hosts the collective Hang WMe, bringing in artists, entrepreneurs and group voices from all paths. They counsel Gallagher go to the Date Market subsequent, since dates are historically loved with espresso.
So she meets Reem Almazarey, a neighborhood information, who leads her by way of Mina Zayed. It’s her first time making an attempt dates, a number of, truly. They stroll previous piles of Medjools, Khalas and Fard, every with its personal texture and flavour, all staples on Emirati tables and a part of each day hospitality.
Almazarey then suggests exploring the town’s inventive core on the 421 Arts Campus. A renovated warehouse turned unbiased platform, 421 helps rising artists and tasks from throughout the area. Architect and digital artist Chafic Mekawi takes Gallagher by way of areas that host exhibitions, workshops and talks. It’s a reminder of how a lot Abu Dhabi invests in fostering its personal inventive future.
Next, Gallagher reconnects with Almazarey, who brings her to Ajmal Oud, a long-established perfumery. She exhibits her the layers of the oud tree and the way the oil is burned, explaining how oud, a wealthy, resinous wooden perfume is deeply tied to native id; selecting a mix right here is much less about choice than reminiscence.
Then it’s on to Saadiyat Cultural District, the place Gallagher heads for teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi. Approaching, she displays, “They say this city holds the future, but nobody told me it would look like this. I’m stepping into a space that feels alive, where it breathes, walls respond and you don’t just look at art, you feel it.” Inside, she watches the installations shift and reply in actual time.
Later, Gallagher takes a second alone at Mamsha Beach. White sand and clear water line a contemporary promenade. “This place is more than a destination” she says. “It’s a conversation between the past and the possible.”
Later, at Kintsugi Space, a women-only wellness membership, she learns how luxurious takes on a extra considerate form, particularly for these looking for one thing each refined and significant. Founded by Anastasia Achellios, the membership gives fascia remedy, breathwork and a peaceful that lingers, providing you with area to reset.
Gallagher sums up her experiences because the movie involves an in depth: “Abu Dhabi is full of stories, ancient, modern and anything in between. Wherever you go here, someone is waiting to share something with you, and that’s what makes it special. The hospitality is like nowhere else.” Together, these locations supply one other method into Abu Dhabi. Not concerning the spectacular structure or the luxurious resorts, however concerning the lived-in components of the town that really feel distinctly native. They’re a reminder that this can be a place nonetheless taking form, open to new concepts and new voices.
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