A lady walks a dog in Al Manara

A lady walks a dog in Al Manara, Dubai By Aqib Anwar

Born and raised in Dubai, I’ve witnessed it’s rapid changes throughout the last 30 years. I’ve seen the city change drastically. I remember coming back from a summer holiday in India to bear witness to an empty plot that lay where the iconic Strand Cinemas once stood. And although over the years skyscrapers rose from the ground to form new shadows, I always found myself feeling comfortable and more at home in the less ‘shiny’ parts of Dubai. I love the new café and food concepts that have been blossoming in the city, spending evenings at the park, the beach or driving around neighborhoods in Jumeirah, Karama or Al Quoz.
I enjoyed this project as it gave me an opportunity to show ‘a different side of Dubai’, although this term is now overused and could be taken to mean Al Fahidi, the Creek or Deira. To me, it’s more in the everyday life of the city where I find humanity. Despite what you hear from cynics, the city is real. Its people are real, meaningful contributors to the melting pot of cultures that make it special. While there is a large transitory population of people who are here for a couple of years and leave, there are others who have been here for a long time. This can make it tricky to form meaningful friendships or relationships but that’s part of the charm. Making an effort to connect to people outside of beach clubs, night outs or dating apps, is part of discovering this place for what it really is. Fortunately, I was introduced to the world of photography through an Instagram meet. And through photography, I was introduced to a community of incredible people, who are humble, adventurous and kind, who are making this city their home, beneath its facade of sheen and splendor.