From 19 to 22 November, NOMAD will expand its presence in Abu Dhabi, strengthening its connections in a region that is rapidly redefining the global cultural landscape. Like NOMAD itself, Abu Dhabi combines deep respect for heritage and tradition with bold, progressive cultural ambitions.
At the heart of this edition is the historic setting of Terminal 1 of Zayed International Airport, a landmark of Gulf modernism designed by French architect Paul Andreu, renowned for the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, at the behest of UAE’s founder, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Opened in 1982, Terminal 1 became a symbol of progress and refinement, with its tent-like roof of shimmering mosaic tiles and sweeping glass façade that reflects both geometric and spiritual ideals. Retired from service in 2023, the building now enters a new chapter that reflects its original spirit of innovation and global vision.
NOMAD will reanimate this architectural icon through staging its most ambitious project to date, with a site-specific presentation that highlights the terminal’s distinctive design and atmosphere. Preserving and reinterpreting the building’s key features, from its circular lounge to its arched walkways, NOMAD will transform the space into an immersive setting for curated presentations of collectible design, contemporary art, and jewellery presentations from leading international galleries.
Abu Dhabi’s cultural scene provides an ideal context for this edition. The city is home to the Saadiyat Cultural District, where institutions such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the forthcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi are shaping a dynamic, globally connected art landscape. Rooted in the heritage of the Emirates yet open to innovation and cross-cultural exchange, Abu Dhabi has become a vibrant hub for creativity, patronage, and international collaboration.
Set against this backdrop, the first edition of NOMAD in Abu Dhabi will bring together regional traditions, Islamic aesthetics, Gulf modernism, and cutting-edge contemporary design in a unified, forward-looking presentation. Coinciding with Abu Dhabi Art – a key moment in the global art calendar that has attracted collectors and curators from across the world for nearly two decades – the fair is also situated just an hour from Dubai’s booming design scene, adding further depth and positioning NOMAD within a thriving regional ecosystem of creativity and commerce. In this context, the fair will serve as a market entry point, a positioning tool, and a strategic platform for galleries seeking long- term engagement with one of the world’s most dynamic art economies. Constantly analysing trends and identifying emerging cultural hubs, NOMAD aims to contribute meaningfully to the region’s cultural landscape, enriching it through its dynamic and selective program.
GALLERIES
Mirroring its location, NOMAD in Abu Dhabi will bring together regional heritage and cutting- edge contemporary design in a resonant dialogue. Leading international design galleries include Nilufar (Milan), celebrated for its visionary curatorial eye and mix of vintage and contemporary design. Here, historic works by Gio Ponti are presented alongside those of Osanna Visconti, StudioDanielK, Etereo, and Christian Pellizzari. Gallery FUMI (London) brings new works by Jeremy Anderson, Kustaa Saksi, Voukenas Petrides, Sam Orlando Miller, and Jesse Schlesinger – an exciting panorama of practices spanning ceramics, textiles, mirror, and bronze that explore transformation, perception, and tactility. Galerie BSL (Paris) unveils Gandhara Carapace by Nada Debs and Studio Lél, together with Pia Maria Raeder’s hand-crafted sculptures in wood and resin, celebrating craftsmanship and material sensuality.
Making its debut at NOMAD, The AP Room (Dubai) presents The Roots by Dubai-based Iranian artist Roham Shamekh, a sculptural collection of stools and benches with organic, root-like forms, that reflect on collective human experience. From Egypt, Don Tanani (Cairo) introduces a new body of work that defines contemporary Egyptian design; entirely produced in its atelier, the collection uses materials such as camel bone, solid oak, and natural oxidation to articulate a renewed design language rooted in cultural heritage. Le LAB (Cairo) reveals Noah’s Arc by Khaled Zaki, a sculptural dining installation exploring continuity and coexistence, expanding the conversation between art, design, and architecture in the region. Gem Alf (Istanbul) stages a dialogue between contemporary works by Gem Alf Studio and historical pieces by Giuseppe Rivadossi and Luigi Brusotti, blending Ottoman references with refined craftsmanship and light-driven forms. We Gallery (Moscow, São Paulo, Dubai) curates a selection of Brazilian and contemporary design by Oscar Niemeyer, Joaquim Tenreiro, Juliana Vasconcellos, and Lucas Recchia – reflecting the intersections of architecture, material, and gesture. Leila Heller Gallery (Dubai, New York) brings a major art component with Chihuly: Four Decades of Iconic Works, a sweeping presentation of blown- glass sculptures and drawings by Dale Chihuly, celebrating four decades of innovation, color, and light in contemporary glass art.
Bardo Collections (Tunis), Mondavilli Scagliola (Milan), and Galerie Melissa Paul (London, Paris) bring distinctive perspectives on materiality, craftsmanship, and cultural context, while Ninetto Gallery (Athens), Robilant+Voena (London, Milan, Paris, New York), Brun Fine Art (Milan, Florence, London) and Galerie Gastou (Paris) present curated exhibitions that explore the relationship between art, design, and historical mastery through form, craft, and narrative.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
A constellation of special projects will explore the intersection of material, craft, and contemporary design. Each presentation reflects the fair’s commitment to dialogue between tradition and innovation, bringing together leading studios, designers, artisans and brands from across the world.
Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council (Sharjah), a foundation established under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi and dedicated to preserving and reimagining Emirati crafts, presents the Tilad Collection in collaboration with Mexican artist and designer Ricardo Rendón. Blending the vivid landscapes of Mexico with Emirati crafts of Talli and Safeefah, the series fuses pine wood, volcanic stone, and hand-woven palm fronds in a poetic dialogue between two traditions of craftsmanship and storytelling. A. A. Murakami (London, Tokyo), the artist duo known for their ephemeral sensory installations, and TRAME (Paris), a creative studio that bridges heritage craftsmanship with digital design, jointly unveil A Thousand Layers of Stomach, an installation in knitted textile and generative code where machine, pattern, and biology converge. Parsa (Paris, Tehran), the maison d’édition founded
by Shiva Shayan and Thomas Vlach, presents Turning Time into Stone, an evocative meditation on matter and memory through monumental pieces sculpted from travertine, marble, and onyx. Rug specialists Iwan Maktabi (Beirut, Dubai) join forces with Hechizoo (Bogotá), the Colombian textile atelier led by artist and architect Jorge Lizarazo, to introduce When Earth Dreamt in Gold, an immersive environment of woven metal and natural fibre by artist Jorge Lizarazo, conceived as a dialogue between nature and light. Ethical fashion brand Orient 499 (Beirut, Dubai) collaborates with Lebanese design duo David/Nicolas to present Mida, a collection of tables and seating inspired by the majlis, celebrating hospitality and togetherness through refined craftsmanship. Further projects include Fluid Echoes presented by Super Loop (Beirut), an art and design collective exploring cross-cultural aesthetics; Vagujhelyi (New York), the interdisciplinary studio of Diego Villarreal Vagujhelyi, showcasing the Postura Collection of sculptural objects in stainless steel and bronze that explore heritage, ritual, and identity; and A2Z Jewellery (Bahrain, London), the fine jewelry house expanding NOMAD’s growing jewelry section.
Set within the departure hall of Zayed International Airport, in partnership with Etihad Airways, DEPARTURES transforms the former Etihad Hub into a new platform for large- scale projects at the intersection of art and design. The exhibition features works by Ahmad Angawi (Saudi Arabia), Taher Asad-Bakhtiari (Iran), Etienne Bastormagi (Lebanon), Zeinab Al Hashemi (UAE), Abdullah Al Othman (Saudi Arabia), Christopher Joshua Benton (USA), Ali Cha’aban (Lebanon), Lamya Gargash (UAE), KAMEH (UAE), Orkhan Mammadov (Azerbaijan), Khalid Mezaina(UAE), Aref Montazeri (Iran), and A.A. Murakami (Japan/UK). A highlight of the presentation is a special AI-driven commission by Orkhan Mammadov, inspired by Etihad’s upcoming 2026 destinations. Expanding on
this dialogue between art, architecture, and functionality, DEPARTURES also presents The Golden Container — a cargo container repurposed as a museum-grade storage space, and positioned at the public entrance of the Terminal.
Destinations by Bottega Veneta, a curation of works by eight designers from North Africa and the Middle East, will occupy a dedicated space at Terminal 1. On the 50th anniversary of the house’s Intrecciato leather weave, each designer was commissioned to respond to this signature craft using their own artistic language, local materials, and ancestral techniques. Curated by Rana Beiruti and conceived as a journey through places, traditions, and perspectives, the project reflects Bottega Veneta’s long-standing commitment to cultural exchange and celebration of craft in all its forms.
The Champagne House, Maison Perrier-Jouët will present Cohabitare by the renowned design studio Formafantasma, an ecological art installation reflecting the Maison’s enduring commitment to art and nature. Originally unveiled in the House’s historic vineyards in Champagne, France, Cohabitare embodies the idea of coexistence between species and the importance of biodiversity in viticulture. Crafted from terracotta and planted with indigenous flora, the installation has been specially adapted for NOMAD, offering visitors a new encounter with the House’s environmental vision and heritage, and inviting reflection on the interconnectedness of the natural world and the role of creativity in building a more sustainable future.
OFF-SITE PROJECT
Presented as part of NOMAD’s off-site program in partnership with Jumeirah, Shifting Terrains is a design showcase tracing the evolving creative landscape of the United Arab Emirates, hosted at Jumeirah Saadiyat Island. The project reflects a generation of regional artists and designers redefining notions of place through material, process, and imagination. Participants include Datecrete (Palestine/Lebanon), KAMEH (UAE), Mary-Lynn Massoud (Lebanon), Georges Mohasseb (Lebanon), and Neda Salmanpour (Iran). A special project by NOMAD x Jumeirah, the exhibition is curated in partnership with NOMAD and Arnaud Morand, curator and artistic director.
Presented in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and with the support of NOMAD’s strategic partner Abu Dhabi Airports, the 2025 edition of NOMAD marks a bold new chapter in the region: the activation of an architectural treasure, a celebration of design at its most collectible, and a thoughtful contribution to the evolving cultural dialogue between the Middle East and the Western world.
EXHIBITORS LIST GALLERIES
The AP Room (Dubai)
Bardo Collections (Tunis, London)
Bureau of Innovation (London, Paris, Dubai, Melbourne)
Brun Fine Arts (Milan, London, Florence)
Don Tanani (Cairo)
Galerie BSL (Paris)
Galerie Gastou (Paris)
Galerie Mélissa Paul (London, Paris)
Gallery FUMI (London)
Gem Alf (Istanbul)
Le LAB (Cairo)
Leila Heller Gallery (New York, Dubai)
Mondavilli Scagliola (Milan)
Nilufar (Milan)
Ninetto Gallery (Athens)
Olivier Varenne Art Moderne & Contemporain, and Adam Knight Fine Art (Geneva, Nagambie) Robilant + Voena (Milan, London, Paris, New York)
Soleille Gallery (Ibiza)
The Third Line (Dubai)
We Gallery (Moscow, São Paulo, Dubai)
SPECIAL PROJECTS
The Dream Vault: A Treasury of Jewels by A2Z (London)
Antidote: In Transit by Antidote Functional Bar
Mida by Orient 499 x David/Nicolas (Beirut, Dubai)
Turning time into stone by Parsa (Paris, Tehran)
[Prime]al by Studio Renn (Bombay)
In Transit: A Nomadic Library by Dongola Limited Editions (Beirut) x Studio Etienne Bastormagi
(Beirut) x Mira Hawa Projects (Beirut, London)
A Thousand Layers of Stomach by A.A.Murakami (London, Tokyo) & TRAME (Paris)
Destinations by Bottega Veneta (Milan)
DEPARTURES powered by Etihad Airways
Fluid Echoes by Super Loop (Beirut)
FORMED by The House of Artisans Design Competition showcase (Abu Dhabi)
Tilad Collection by Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council x Ricardo Rendón (Sharjah
When Earth Dreamt in Gold by Iwan Maktabi (Beirut, Dubai)
The Amber Hour by Kamyen (Dubai)
The Golden Container by Inloco Initiative
Objects of Conscious Living by ADAI
Cohabitare by Perrier-Jouët x Formafantasma (Milan)
SHIFTING TERRAINS off-site exhibition at Jumeirah Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
Postura Collection by Vagujhelyi (New York)
EXHIBITORS LINE-UP
Collectible Design
A showcase of visionary galleries and studios presenting limited-edition furniture, sculptural objects, and innovative decorative arts that bridge heritage, craftsmanship, and contemporary design.
The AP Room – Dubai
VIVIUM introduces The AP Room, Dubai’s first gallery of its kind, founded by design veteran Christelle Bassila. Dedicated to connecting international designers with the Middle East and promoting local talent globally, the gallery actively participates in leading collectible design fairs and exhibitions. At NOMAD – Abu Dhabi, AP Room presents works by Aline Hazarian and Roham Shamekh, exploring the poetic intersection of craft, memory, and emotion.
Bardo Collections – London, Tunis
Founded by Selma Feriani, Bardo Collections merges Mediterranean heritage with contemporary design, fostering dialogue between tradition and experimentation. The gallery presents Jardin Précieux, a curated collection of ceramics, lithographs, photography, jewelry, and furniture by Aymen Mbarki, Catalina Swinburn, Skander Khlif, and Sofia Essaied, celebrating memory, nature, and modernism.
Brun Fine Art – Florence, London, Milan
Brun Fine Art, led by Pilar Pandini and Augusto Brun, specializes in antique art while cultivating meaningful connections between collectors, institutions, and museums. The gallery presents Alvar Aalto Meets Antique, a curated exhibition uniting organic architecture, aesthetic depth, and one-of-a-kind antiques, offering a dialogue between tradition and modern form.
Bureau of Innovation – London, Paris, Dubai, Melbourne
Bureau of Innovation (BOI), founded by Holly Lucas and Sam Henley, is a nomadic gallery presenting bold, purposeful design meant to be lived with. The exhibition Reverie showcases international designers working in glass, wood, metal, and stone, including Studio Khachatryan’s white bronze stools, Tom Fereday and Pitt & Giblin’s mono-material speaker Cast, and Agglomerati with Sho Ota’s layered marble compositions. The exhibition creates an intimate, contemplative space where material, form, and narrative quietly resonate.
Don Tanani – Cairo
Don Tanani champions contemporary Egyptian design by blending traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques. The Cairo-based studio showcases a curated selection of open and limited-edition works, highlighting Egypt’s evolving design language through pieces that merge heritage, materiality, and innovation.
Galerie BSL – Paris
Galerie BSL, founded by Béatrice Saint-Laurent, explores the intersection of art and design through experimentation with materials, form, and narrative. The gallery presents Organic Geometries, uniting stone, color, and sculptural form in works by Pia Maria Raeder, Nada Debs x Studio Lél, Carol Egan, Jimmy Delatour, and Gaspard Fleury-Dugy.
Gallery FUMI – London
Gallery FUMI, founded by Sam Pratt and Valerio Capo, spotlights conceptually bold designers who merge traditional techniques with innovative technology. The gallery presents a selection of works exemplifying craft and materiality, including Kustaa Saksi’s tapestries and Jeremy Anderson’s chandelier, highlighting the enduring value of the maker’s hand.
Galerie Gastou – Paris
When Yves Gastou settled in Paris in 1985, he envisioned a space that was passionate, audacious, and free, entrusting its creation and iconic façade to Ettore Sottsass. Joined by his son Victor in 2005, the gallery has remained a place to reveal discoveries where eras and styles converge—the Goût Gastou. Galerie Gastou presents contemporary designers, including Emmanuel Jonckers, Monique Rozanes, Philippe Hiquily, Béatrice Serre, Emanuel Babled, and Omar Chakil, alongside select vintage works by historic creators.
Galerie Mélissa Paul – London, Paris
Galerie Mélissa Paul champions artistic freedom, experimentation, and the dialogue between tradition and innovation. The gallery presents The Future of the Past, uniting French makers Erwan Boulloud, Bertrand Créac’h, Pierre Salagnac, François Colo, and modern icons Gio Ponti and Maurizio Tempestini. The exhibition explores material, movement, and form, bridging heritage and experimentation through timeless craftsmanship.
Gem Alf – Istanbul
Gem Alf operates at the intersection of design and curation, blending contemporary creation with rare, historic finds to tell compelling visual stories. Debuting at NOMAD, Gem Alf presents a curated selection of works by Giuseppe Rivadossi, Luigi Brusotti, and other designers, highlighting dialogues between past and present in collectible design.
Le LAB – Cairo
Le LAB fosters Egypt’s creative heritage while nurturing regional talent through a multidisciplinary approach to design, art, and architecture. At NOMAD
– Abu Dhabi, Khaled Zaki’s Noah’s Arc reinterprets the universal myth as a sculptural dining table with nested seating, inviting reflection on coexistence, memory, and resilience through precision-crafted natural wood forms.
Mondavilli Scagliola – Milan
Founded in 2022 by Walter Mondavilli and Piermaria Scagliola, Mondavilli Scagliola celebrates the dialogue between twentieth-century icons and contemporary Italian design. The Milan-based gallery presents a curated selection at Zayed International Airport, uniting vintage masterpieces by Gabriella Crespi, Alessandro Mendini, and Luigi Caccia Dominioni with new works by Lavinia Fuksas, Pietro Franceschini, and Michela Cattai. The presentation embodies the continuity of Italian craftsmanship—where memory, material, and innovation converge in a timeless narrative of design.
Nilufar – Milan
Founded in 1979 by Nina Yashar, Nilufar is a Milan- based gallery renowned for its visionary approach to design, seamlessly bridging historic masters and contemporary creators. Nilufar presents a curated selection by Yashar herself—uniting works from Gio Ponti to StudioDanielK. The presentation embodies Nilufar’s signature dialogue between eras and geographies, where craftsmanship, memory, and innovation converge in a forward-looking design narrative.
Ninetto Gallery – Athens
Founded by Romain Bitton and Fred de Schonen, Ninetto champions international and Greece-based artists, encouraging experimentation across painting, installation, and design. The gallery presents APOLIS, a new series by French artist Hugo Avigo. Blurring the line between function and fiction, Avigo’s sculptural and painted works evoke fragments of urban life— objects untethered from their original context, reimagined as poetic remnants of a world both familiar and estranged.
Soleille Gallery – Ibiza
Soleille Gallery, founded by Franco-Mexican architect Gabriela Puig Soleille, bridges architecture, design, and art through curations that celebrate materiality, emotion, and craftsmanship. The gallery presents Desert Dialogue, a manifesto against overproduction, featuring designers devoted to deliberate creation: Alex Turco’s resin-and-gem pieces, Francesco Maria Messina’s sustainable functional art, Pyrite’s hand- assembled mineral cabinets, and the B-15A Mirror from the Glacies Collection. Each work transforms space into a reflection on patience, devotion, and the poetry of making.
We Gallery – Moscow, São Paulo, Dubai
We Gallery is a nomadic platform dedicated to Brazilian and Latin American design, showcasing 20th- century masters alongside contemporary creators and niche furniture brands. The gallery presents a curated selection celebrating the region’s rich design heritage, featuring works by Oscar Niemeyer, Jorge Zalszupin, Sergio Rodrigues, Percival Lafer, and Joaquim Tenreiro—highlighting craftsmanship, historical depth, and cultural resonance within a global design dialogue.
Modern And Contemporary Art
Featuring galleries that explore painting, sculpture, glass, and multi-disciplinary practices, highlighting experimental approaches and the evolving global art landscape.
Leila Heller Gallery – Dubai, New York
For over four decades, Leila Heller Gallery has championed artists bridging cultures and mediums. The gallery debuts with Chihuly: Four Decades of Iconic Work, showcasing nearly 40 years of the artist’s groundbreaking Studio Glass practice, from Baskets and Seaforms to Persians, celebrating color, innovation, and the enduring legacy of contemporary glass artistry.
Special Projects
Robilant+Voena – London, Milan, Paris, New York
Founded in 2004 by Edmondo di Robilant and Marco Voena, Robilant+Voena is an international gallery renowned for its expertise in Old Masters and twentieth-century Italian art, complemented by contemporary projects that bridge historical mastery with modern creativity. The gallery presents a curated selection of twentieth-century and contemporary Italian works alongside furniture by Mondavilli Scagliola, featuring pieces by Alighiero Boetti, Agostino Bonalumi, Lucio Fontana, and Michelangelo Pistoletto—celebrating the enduring dialogue between art, innovation, and design.
In addition to exhibitor presentations, NOMAD will be programming a number of special projects.
A THOUSAND LAYERS OF STOMACH, A.A. MURAKAMI & TRAME
TRAME, a Paris-based studio, and London/Tokyo artist duo A.A. Murakami merge ancestral craft with generative code to create A Thousand Layers of Stomach. Visitors witness unique patterns knitted on demand in sustainably sourced cotton, inspired by the Asari clam shell, blending natural mathematics, human creativity, and technology into ephemeral, living textiles that connect heritage, art, and innovation.
ANTIDOTE: IN TRANSIT, ANTIDOTE FUNCTIONAL BAR
Antidote is a wellness space offering functional drinks that combine adaptogens, nootropics, and botanicals to support mood, energy, and overall health— providing a healthier alternative to any beverage. It’s where conscious consumption meets science and design. Antidote: In Transit transforms the aesthetics of a flight lounge into a space for reflection and renewal. Glowing screens scroll digital mantras like departure boards, turning travel into a moment of rest and mindfulness. The installation blurs movement and meditation, technology and playfulness, offering a visual and emotional antidote for those perpetually in motion.
THE AMBER HOUR, KAMYEN
Kamyen, in collaboration with Omar Al Gurg’s MODU Method, presents The Amber Hour, an immersive installation reimagining the majlis as a warm, intimate gathering space. The project showcases high jewelry through sculptural forms, soft textures, and curated light, creating a dialogue between craft, heritage, and contemporary design.
COHABITARE, PERRIER-JOUËT X FORMAFANTASMA
Maison Perrier-Jouët collaborates with design studio Formafantasma to explore the intersection of architecture, nature, and sustainability. The project Cohabitare presents a multidisciplinary installation inspired by Art Nouveau and ecological interconnectedness, pairing bespoke design interventions with sensory experiences that celebrate biodiversity, craft, and regenerative viticulture.
DEPARTURES, POWERED BY ETIHAD AIRWAYS
In partnership with Etihad Airways, NOMAD’s DEPARTURES transforms Terminal 1 at Zayed International Airport into a platform for large-scale art and design projects. Featuring artists such as Orkhan Mammadov, Ahmad Angawi, and Zeinab Al Hashemi, the exhibition explores departures from convention and everyday routines. DEPARTURES reimagines the airport as a “world within worlds,” where art bridges local identities, history, and global exchange.
DESTINATIONS, BOTTEGA VENETA
Founded in 1966 in Vicenza, Italy, Bottega Veneta is renowned for its artisanal leatherwork and enduring commitment to craft, creativity, and cultural
dialogue. At NOMAD Abu Dhabi, the house presents Destinations, an exhibition celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of its iconic Intrecciato weave. Bringing together artists and studios from across the Middle East and North Africa, the exhibition explores weaving as both a material practice and a metaphor for unity and exchange, featuring works by Abdalla Almulla, Amine Asselman, Esna Su, Nader Gammas, Shaha Raphael, Zein Daouk, Sayar & Garibeh, and bahraini — danish.
THE DREAM VAULT, A2Z
Founded by Abdulrahman Al Zayani, A2Z advises clients in the GCC and around the world on building and curating their jewelry and art collections, specializing in matching clients with unique pieces that tell personal stories. Beyond advisory services, A2Z participates in luxury pop-ups and exclusive private sales, including partnerships with Christie’s Private Sales in Dubai and London and with Sotheby’s London. The firm presents over 300 carefully selected pieces, ranging from iconic vintage Bulgari and Cartier designs to modern masterpieces, each showcasing exceptional craftsmanship and remarkable stones.
FLUID ECHOES, SUPER LOOP
SUPER LOOP is a design collective that bridges cultural aesthetics through craftsmanship and contemporary innovation. At NOMAD, the studio presents Fluid Echoes, a collection inspired by Middle Eastern floral and tree motifs, reinterpreted in hand-carved wood, mother-of-pearl inlay, and modern materials like gradient glass and steel. Flowing table legs, warped mirrors, and sculptural lamps evoke movement and transformation, celebrating cultural exchange and the fluidity of design.
FORMED, THE HOUSE OF ARTISANS DESIGN COMPETITION SHOWCASE
Developed by House of Artisans and proudly sponsored by Mubadala, FORMED, the house of artisans design competition showcase celebrates the living heritage of the UAE through contemporary design. The initiative bridges artisans and designers, fostering collaborations that reinterpret traditional Emirati crafts for the modern world. Bringing together students, creatives, and makers from across the UAE, the showcase features bespoke art and furniture pieces that
merge ancestral techniques with innovative design thinking. Through mentorship and intergenerational exchange, FORMED reflects a shared vision to keep craftsmanship alive—honoring cultural authenticity while shaping the future of Emirati design.
IN TRANSIT: A NOMADIC LIBRARY, DONGOLA LIMITED EDITIONS X STUDIO ETIENNE BASTORMAGI X MIRA HAWA PROJECTS
In Transit: A Nomadic Library is a mobile installation by Mira Hawa Projects with Studio Etienne Bastormagi and Dongola Limited Editions. Reimagining the library as an adaptable, traveling space, it transforms movement into an experience of reflection and exchange. Made from brushed and perforated aluminum, the structure houses Dongola’s publications—including the Dongola Architecture Series and artist books such as Season of Migration to the North—becoming a living, portable archive where books, architecture, and culture converge.
MIDA, ORIENT 499 X DAVID/NICOLAS
Orient 499, founded in Beirut and Dubai in 2006, blends sustainable luxury with cultural preservation, supporting Levantine artisans across fashion, homeware, and design. At NOMAD – Abu Dhabi, Orient 499 debuts Mida, a collaborative collection with Lebanese designers David/Nicolas. Inspired by the majlis, the series of tables, stools, and side tables reinterprets traditional gathering spaces through refined woodwork and copper inlays, celebrating togetherness, craftsmanship, and contemporary artisanal luxury.
OBJECTS OF CONSCIOUS LIVING, ADAI
ADAI is a digital platform powered by AI discovery and curatorial integrity, connecting global collectors to leading MENA artists and galleries. Its exhibition “Objects of Conscious Living” explores how design, imagination, and emotion merge to create objects that transcend function—inviting us to live more consciously and see art as a companion in everyday life.
POSTURA COLLECTION, VAGUJHELYI
New York–based multidisciplinary artist Diego Villareal Vagujhelyi presents the Postura Collection, a series of solid bronze sculptures exploring identity, materiality, and the interplay between object and experience. The works invite immersive engagement, redefining the boundaries between art, form, and contemporary expression.
[PRIME]AL, STUDIO RENN
Bombay-based Studio Renn reinterprets indigenous artistic traditions through contemporary fine jewelry. Their project [Prime]al distills themes of creation myths, protection, and cyclicity into sculptural forms crafted from gold, diamonds, and unconventional materials like concrete and wood, reflecting a research-driven dialogue between material, form, and cultural heritage.
SHIFTING TERRAINS, NOMAD X JUMEIRAH
Part of NOMAD’s off-site program in partnership with Jumeirah, Shifting Terrains traces the evolving creative landscape of the United Arab Emirates through design, architecture, and visual art. Hosted at Jumeirah Saadiyat Island, the showcase explores the dialogue between the built and the natural, featuring works by Datecrete, KAMEH, Mary-Lynn Massoud, Georges Mohasseb, and Neda Salmanpour. Curante in partnership with NOMAD and Arnaud Morand, the exhibition reflects a generation reimagining place through material, process, and imagination.
TILAD COLLECTION, IRTHI CONTEMPORARY CRAFTS COUNCIL X RICARDO RENDÓN
Based in Sharjah under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council empowers women artisans and preserves Emirati craft heritage through innovation and cultural exchange. Irthi debuts, collaborating with Ricardo Rendón on a collection merging Mexico’s bold materiality with Emirati traditions such as Talli and Safafah. The result is a contemporary dialogue of texture, color, and craft— where heritage meets reinvention.
TURNING TIME INTO STONE, PARSA
Parsa, co-founded by Shiva Shayan and Thomas Vlach, unites contemporary design with the heritage of Iranian stone craftsmanship. For NOMAD, Parsa brings its Paris gallery to Abu Dhabi, presenting rare stones transformed into minimalist furniture and sculptural forms. The installation highlights the dialogue between ancient materials and modern design, inviting visitors to experience the tactile and temporal beauty of stone as an artistic medium.
WHEN EARTH DREAMT IN GOLD, IWAN MAKTABI
Iwan Maktabi presents When Earth Dreamt in Gold, a solo exhibition by Colombian studio Hechizoo, founded by artist and architect Jorge Lizarazo. Two years in the making, the project transforms the dialogue between nature, material, and light into woven expressions of gold and earth. Commissioned for NOMAD – Abu Dhabi, the installation unfolds as an immersive landscape of metallic threads, natural fibers, and sculptural forms—where craftsmanship, art, and imagination converge in a luminous reflection on renewal and connection.
Press release from NOMAD
Image: NOMAD – ABU DHABI, Former Terminal 1, Zayed International Airport, 2025. Image courtesy of Zayed International Airport
