Dubai doesn't stand still: Inside Alserkal Avenue

CULTURAL DISTRICT KEEPS IDEAS FLOWING IN A CITY THAT REFUSES TO SLOW DOWN

- BY MANJUSHA RADHAKRISHNAN

"We don't stand still." As Basmah El Bittar, director of Alserkal Avenue, says these words, we're walking through Alserkal Avenue on a windy April afternoon in Dubai's industrial-chic Al Quoz neighbourhood.

She's giving Gulf News a tour of the vibrant cultural district she oversees. It's a sprawling, ever-evolving hub that houses everything from cutting-edge galleries and swanky leather goods stores to salons, matcha cafes and the much-loved indie cinema central, Cinema Akil.

A hub in full swing

It's 4:20pm on a weekday, but there's no sign of slowdown. Parking is a challenge as art lovers spill in and out of warehouse spaces. The art season is building, and Alserkal feels like it's already in full swing.

"Good news that you couldn't find parking!," she says with a laugh. "We're always happy to welcome our audiences anytime."

And that opening line, 'we don't stand still', quickly takes on a meaning far beyond this district. Because she isn't just talking about Alserkal Avenue. She's talking about Dubai, the city that has a robust crowd who look for creative pit-stops around the region.