The Gulf is a small place with large reserves of culture and stunning visuals. I was continuously impressed by the melding of the modern and the traditional in the Arab world. From a sleek art museum to a wooden fishing boat (or “dhow”), both can be found proudly showcasing Arab culture side-by-side.
What some may mistake as a monolith, Arab culture is actually a moving, evolving culture like any other, which seeks to incorporate elements from its encounters with the wider world, meanwhile preserving its historical grounding. This melding and merging can sometimes lead to some surprising results. In this case, Qatari men and women celebrating their National Day and displaying their local culture, also relish a chance to view—and even sit in—classic European and American cars….perhaps, for a moment, to imagine what it would’ve been like to drive these iconic cars in a different decade, on a different continent?
Even within the Gulf, there is a rich diversity of cultures, landscapes, and textures. I was moved by my visit to the ruins of an ancient village near Ibri, Oman, and it made me pause to consider how life might have been in this small community thousands of years ago.
To explore more images from my travels in the Arabian Peninsula, check out my full gallery: here
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