The United Arab Emirates is a country in constant change. Once an obscure Gulf nation, in just 40 years the UAE has emerged from the desert sands. The substantial growth from oil-driven development has transformed the local semi-nomadic bedouin society into a culture anchored in international business, tourism, and luxury.
This ambitious growth has attracted expatriates from all across the globe. Foreigners now make up 85 percent of the population. This constant influx of new influences is causing the modern identity of the Emirates to evolve. Rather than focus on the affluence, which is prevalent in the minds of most westerners, this series of images forms a different portrait of the Emirates—one where the coexistence of cultures often leave behind an awkward, surreal environment.
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