Photographer Andrew Moore likes to shoot cities with a long history. But for the past 10 years, he’s been taking pictures of Abu Dhabi.
“I love things that have a certain patina and age to them,” he says. “Abu Dhabi is a challenge in that everything is so new. In some cases, people have been tearing things down just as I am photographing them.” Moore has been at work on a book project of the city, and now that it’s taken a decade, it has turned into something different: not a snapshot of Abu Dhabi, but a time-elapsed series, revealing how much the city has changed in just ten years.
The artist is famous for his large-format images of cities that celebrate the multi-faceted cacophony of urban life – a subject he will address when he speaks at the NYUAD Institute today. His images of New York, where he has long lived, bring together the taxis, buses, cars, streets, buildings, hoardings, the people, and the shabby edges of the city blocks into one picture plane.
Looking at his work, often taken from an elevated vantage point, you wonder how people even navigate the streets with the amount of sensory information that is shifting around them, and which Moore brings out in all its saturated, colourful splendour. He is especially known for photographing cities on the edge of decline – places such as Havana, Detroit, and sites in Russia and Ukraine – in which residents live among the material effects of a past that, both due to lack of resources for renovations and its past glory, no one bothers to change.
Getting the project started
The palpability of the past isn't something typically associated with the Gulf, but Moore teases out the Abu Dhabi of the edges that doesn't feature in billboard advertisements. An image of a hairdressing "saloon" takes in the cheap plastic green chair that residents sit on outside the parlour, under a well-used air conditioning unit and a picture of Sheikh Zayed in sunglasses. A customer sits inside in a retro red-and-white chair, quietly returning the camera's gaze.
Another shows the facade of a 1980s apartment building, with its evenly spaced balconies in a worn-down shade of red. The building is pockmarked in places where the concrete is crumbling, and one lone man stands on a balcony, in a bright blue top, to take in the air.
“I went to the homes of some Emiratis and took pictures, but I was more interested in the diversity of the population,” he says. “That was where I started – I shot the Emirates Palace, but again always with an eye to some kind of layering. I showed the fountains of the Emirates Palace, but in the background you see this all-night construction, with cranes working. You have this sense of a city in flux, rising out of the desert. I liked that idea.”
Documenting a changing city
If Emirati cities have changed in terms of their buildings, the tenor of discussion around urbanism has also altered since Moore began photographing: a number of other figures in the Emirates have been likewise celebrating the architecture that flies below the radar of the shiny and new. Khaled Alawadi, an urbanist in Masdar City, made the walkable city the focus of his presentation for last year's Venice Biennale for Architecture pavilion.
Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi is documenting 1980s modernist architecture in Sharjah, uncovering the history of the architects from India, the Levant, who built in the Emirates at the end of the Cold War. Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi is using the platform of the Sharjah Art Foundation to conserve buildings, such as the cinema at Kalba and the so-called Flying Saucer, now an exhibition space. The first outing of the Sharjah Architecture Triennale, which launches in November this year under the curation of Adrian Lahoud, will focus on urban design.
Moore was originally invited by the former vice-chancellor of NYU Abu Dhabi, Hilary Ballon, a specialist in architecture and urbanism. The pair had collaborated on a project in New York surveying the work of the New York planner Robert Moses, and she asked him to bring his camera to Abu Dhabi.
Ballon, who was instrumental in setting up the NYUAD outpost, died in June 2017. “The project,” Moore says, “is now a memorial to her.”
Andrew Moore will speak at the New York University Abu Dhabi Institute on February 11 at 6.30pm. For more information about the session, visit www.nyuad.nyu.edu
UAE rugby season
FIXTURES
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers v Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Division 1
Dubai Sharks v Dubai Hurricanes II
Al Ain Amblers v Dubai Knights Eagles II
Dubai Tigers II v Abu Dhabi Saracens
Jebel Ali Dragons II v Abu Dhabi Harlequins II
Sharjah Wanderers v Dubai Exiles II
LAST SEASON
West Asia Premiership
Winners – Bahrain
Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership
Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners – Dubai Hurricanes
Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference
Winners – Dubai Tigers
Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
Results:
CSIL 2-star 145cm One Round with Jump-Off
1. Alice Debany Clero (USA) on Amareusa S 38.83 seconds
2. Anikka Sande (NOR) For Cash 2 39.09
3. Georgia Tame (GBR) Cash Up 39.42
4. Nadia Taryam (UAE) Askaria 3 39.63
5. Miriam Schneider (GER) Fidelius G 47.74
The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)
Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)
((Disclaimer))
The Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG (“Bank”) assumes no liability or guarantee for the accuracy, balance, or completeness of the information in this publication. The content may change at any time due to given circumstances, and the Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG is under no obligation to update information once it has been published. This publication is intended for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer, a recommendation or an invitation by, or on behalf of, Liechtensteinische Landesbank (DIFC Branch), Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG, or any of its group affiliates to make any investments or obtain services. This publication has not been reviewed, disapproved or approved by the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) Central Bank, Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”) or any other relevant licensing authorities in the UAE. It may not be relied upon by or distributed to retail clients. Liechtensteinische Landesbank (DIFC Branch) is regulated by the DFSA and this advertorial is intended for Professional Clients (as defined by the DFSA) who have sufficient financial experience and understanding of financial markets, products or transactions and any associated risks.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Predictions
Predicted winners for final round of games before play-offs:
- Friday: Delhi v Chennai - Chennai
- Saturday: Rajasthan v Bangalore - Bangalore
- Saturday: Hyderabad v Kolkata - Hyderabad
- Sunday: Delhi v Mumbai - Mumbai
- Sunday - Chennai v Punjab - Chennai
Final top-four (who will make play-offs): Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Structural%20weaknesses%20facing%20Israel%20economy
%3Cp%3E1.%20Labour%20productivity%20is%20lower%20than%20the%20average%20of%20the%20developed%20economies%2C%20particularly%20in%20the%20non-tradable%20industries.%3Cbr%3E2.%20The%20low%20level%20of%20basic%20skills%20among%20workers%20and%20the%20high%20level%20of%20inequality%20between%20those%20with%20various%20skills.%3Cbr%3E3.%20Low%20employment%20rates%2C%20particularly%20among%20Arab%20women%20and%20Ultra-Othodox%20Jewish%20men.%3Cbr%3E4.%20A%20lack%20of%20basic%20knowledge%20required%20for%20integration%20into%20the%20labour%20force%2C%20due%20to%20the%20lack%20of%20core%20curriculum%20studies%20in%20schools%20for%20Ultra-Othodox%20Jews.%3Cbr%3E5.%20A%20need%20to%20upgrade%20and%20expand%20physical%20infrastructure%2C%20particularly%20mass%20transit%20infrastructure.%3Cbr%3E6.%20The%20poverty%20rate%20at%20more%20than%20double%20the%20OECD%20average.%3Cbr%3E7.%20Population%20growth%20of%20about%202%20per%20cent%20per%20year%2C%20compared%20to%200.6%20per%20cent%20OECD%20average%20posing%20challenge%20for%20fiscal%20policy%20and%20underpinning%20pressure%20on%20education%2C%20health%20care%2C%20welfare%20housing%20and%20physical%20infrastructure%2C%20which%20will%20increase%20in%20the%20coming%20years.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Juliet, Naked
Dir: Jesse Peretz
Starring: Chris O'Dowd, Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke
Two stars
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Last 10 winners of African Footballer of the Year
2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2007: Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla and Mali)
2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo)
2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2010: Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan and Cameroon)
2011: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2012: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2014: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon)
2016: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City and Algeria)
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)
Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
