In Conversation In Conversation: Charles Awad, Former Chief Brand Officer, Majid Al Futtaim From Procter & Gamble to leading brand strategy at a top regional retailer, Charles Awad knows what separates brands that scale in the GCC from those that stall. He reflects on the discipline behind genuine localisation and why relevance here is earned, not declared. By Staff Writer • 6 min read
Saadiyat Cultural District. Image: Visit Abu Dhabi Culture Abu Dhabi's Cultural Blueprint Is Rewriting the Rules of Soft Power Heritage and contemporary art are converging in Abu Dhabi to build something more durable than spectacle. The emirate is quietly assembling the infrastructure of global cultural influence. By Luning Wang • 5 min read
Culture Creative Collaboration as Currency: How China and the UAE Can Turn Culture into Capital The next wave of China-UAE growth won't be built on trade agreements alone. It will be shaped by museums, designers, and chefs who create the familiarity that turns tourists into investors. By Chloé Reuter • 4 min read
The Gulf The UAE's Economic Ambition Finds a Strategic Partner in China With Chinese New Year and Ramadan taking place this week, their timing highlights a deepening cultural and economic exchange: Chinese capital and collaboration play a strategic role in the Emirates’ ambition to double GDP by 2031. By Julienna Law • 4 min read
In Conversation In Conversation: Nicola Turner, Principal at Heidrick & Struggles From London to Dubai, Nicola Turner has placed senior leaders across luxury, retail and beauty. Now she shares insights on the Gulf's talent landscape, why cultural fluency and global acumen must coexist, and what leaders will need by 2028. By Staff Writer • 5 min read
In Conversation In Conversation: Georgette Davey, Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches From Switzerland to Shanghai and now Abu Dhabi, Georgette Davey reflects on three decades of hospitality education and why the Middle East represents the next frontier for Swiss academic excellence, one that meets Emirati cultural heritage. By Staff Writer • 5 min read
Culture East Meets West: The Cultural Architecture of Market Entry For international SMEs, the Middle East represents opportunity and complexity in equal measure. Success requires more than market research: it demands cultural intelligence, patient partnership and strategic design from day one, writes Taqua Malik. By Taqua Malik • 4 min read
Opening in December 2025, the Zayed National Museum will feature six permanent galleries spanning 300,000 years of history. Image: Abu Dhabi Media Office Culture Abu Dhabi’s bold bid to become a global art capital Pouring billions into museums and fairs, Abu Dhabi leads the Gulf’s cultural development. But it has grander ambitions: to become the world’s next art capital. By Staff Writer • 5 min read
Culture In Conversation: Hanan Sayed Worrell, Cultural Strategist and Place-maker From airports and museums to wildlife conservation and authorship, the civil engineer turned placemaker has spent three decades translating Abu Dhabi's vision into built reality. Now, she reflects on the art of creating spaces that honour heritage whilst inviting what's next. By Staff Writer • 6 min read
In Conversation In Conversation: Raya Abu Gulal, Founder, R.A.G Legal Consultancy From Abu Dhabi to The Hague, the award-winning legal advisor reflects on the Gulf's rapid transformation, the power of clear laws, and why women's leadership is central to progress. By Staff Writer • 3 min read
Luxury Luxury Made Local: Hospitality, Discretion, and Enduring Equity in the Gulf In the second of two pieces on luxury and cultural fluency in the Gulf, Taqua Malik, founder of Freedomvisory, explores how hospitality, discretion and community contribution transform presence into lasting equity. By Taqua Malik • 3 min read
Culture Luxury in Translation: From Words to Meaning in the Gulf Global luxury codes matter in the Gulf, but cultural fluency is what transforms transactions into lasting relationships, writes Taqua Malik, founder of Freedomvisory, a leading Middle East cultural intelligence advisor. By Taqua Malik • 3 min read
