The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a very new country; it was founded just over 40 years ago. To stay that it has changed during that span of time would be an understatement. With the discovery of oil in the region, the country went from being sparsely populated with Bedouins riding camels in the desert to having ultra-modern, multicultural cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. (If you would like to find out more on the history of the country, you can check out this 9-minute video from the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC.)
For better or for worse, the UAE currently has a very strong mall culture, often with high-end boutiques. Though I am not a big fan of shopping, I do like to observe the aesthetics of any environment that I find myself in. The following pictures are reflective of the UAE’s ultra-modern shopping malls – with glass, cool metal, and clean lines everywhere. They are a stark contrast to how things must have looked like in this country, just several decades ago.
Shoe display at The Galleria Mall in Abu Dhabi. I decided to take a picture at an angle to turn the top-bottom horizontal lines of the frame into some leading lines. I also think that the vertical, code-bar like lights and the reflection of other store signs were strange and interesting.
Tree sculpture at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi. Just a bottom-up picture to create some leading lines.
Crescent and star – symbols of Islam – in front of a large glass window overlooking an outside view at The Galleria Mall in Abu Dhabi.
#1 I love display windows & reflections on their surfaces....#2 Kool perspective & interesting subject...#3 kind of seems strange seeing their religious symbol associated with such crass commercialism.....
Great shots!
Thank you Jay for your comments and for liking the post! Thank you also for picking some of the pictures as favorites. I do find that the last picture is kind of ironic, too.
Always a pleasure, Kim!
Happy Friday!