The A/P Room at NOMAD Abu Dhabi – All photos are by Nikita Berezhnoy, courtesy of NOMAD Circle.
Design. Until 22 November, NOMAD CIRCLE, the travelling showcase of collectible design, debuts in the Middle East, landing in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The exclusive invitation-only event takes over the iconic Terminal 1 of Zayed International Airport — a landmark of Gulf modernism designed by Paul Andreu, also known for Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport. Framed by soaring curves and retro-futuristic geometry, the fair stages its most ambitious project to date. Here’s a closer look at what caught our eye.
- RELATED STORIES: Read more about NOMAD CIRCLE on Archipanic.
THE GALLERIES
The A/P Room in Abu Dhabi.
A vibrant line-up of international galleries animates Terminal 1, offering curated exhibitions spanning collectable design, contemporary art, and jewellery. Milan’s Nilufar showcases works by Etereo, Gal Gaon, Allegra Hicks, Maximilian Marchesani, Christian Pellizzari, and others. “I chose to present artists and designers whose practices resonate with the cultural and aesthetic fabric of this region, voices I believe can spark meaningful dialogue and inspire new perspectives,” says founder Nina Yashar, framing the presentation as a thoughtful dialogue with its setting.
Christian Pellizzari x Nilufar in Abu Dhabi.
Capturing the nomadic spirit of the event and its venue with striking clarity, the Latina design platform channels an encounter between European mastery and Latin American soul. Their project transforms generations of cross-cultural exchange into exquisitely crafted furniture made in Latin America. As they describe it: “A celebration of identity carried across skies, landing softly in a place made for passage, exchange, and wonder.”
Latina design platform in Abu Dhabi.
Making its debut at NOMAD, Dubai’s The A/P Room presents works by Aline Hazarian, who explores the poetic intersections of craft, memory, and emotion. Alongside her pieces is The Roots by Dubai-based Iranian artist Roham Shamekh, a sculptural series of stools and benches with organic, root-like silhouettes that reflect on collective human experience.
The A/P Room in Abu Dhabi.
Paris-based Galerie BSL turns its attention to two of its defining forces: stone and colour. The Organic Geometries exhibition sets the biomorphic forms of Maria Pia Raeder against the structured creations of Nada Debs x Studio Lél, revealing marble and semi-precious stones alive with mineral energy and a rich chromatic language.
Galerie BSL in Abu Dhabi.
From London, Gallery FUMI presents works that champion craft and materiality, including Kustaa Saksi’s mesmerising tapestries and Jeremy Anderson’s chandelier — pieces that highlight the enduring value of the maker’s hand.
Galerie Gastou in Abu Dhabi.
Galerie Gastou, also from Paris, surveys the relationship between art, design, and historical mastery through form, narrative, and impeccable craft, presenting creations by Emmanuel Jonckers, Monique Rozanes, Emanuel Babled, and more.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Super Loop in Abu Dhabi.
A constellation of special projects adds further dimension to NOMAD Abu Dhabi, each probing the intersection of material, craft, and contemporary design. Beirut-based collective Super Loop introduces Fluid Echoes, a collection inspired by Middle Eastern floral and tree motifs, interpreted through hand-carved wood, mother-of-pearl inlay, gradient glass, and steel. Flowing table legs, subtly warped mirrors, and sculptural lamps evoke movement, transformation, and cultural exchange — a fitting reflection of the fair’s spirit.
Super Loop in Abu Dhabi.
In partnership with Etihad Airways, NOMAD’s DEPARTURES initiative transforms Terminal 1 into a platform for bold, large-scale works. Among them stands The Golden Container — a repurposed cargo container elevated to museum-grade storage and dramatically positioned at the terminal’s public entrance.
The Golden Container, Etihad Airways x NOMAD Abu Dhabi.
Bottega Veneta marks the 50th anniversary of its iconic Intrecciato leather weave with Destinations, featuring works by eight designers from North Africa and the Middle East. Curator Rana Beiruti invites each participant to reinterpret this signature craft using their own artistic language, local materials, and time-honoured techniques.
Destinations by Bottega Veneta x NOMAD Abu Dhabi.
Finally, In Transit: A Nomadic Library — a mobile installation by Mira Hawa Projects with Studio Etienne Bastormagi and Dongola Limited Editions — reimagines the very idea of a library as a travelling, adaptive space. Within NOMAD Abu Dhabi, it becomes a sanctuary of reflection and exchange, where movement itself becomes part of the experience.
All photos are by Nikita Berezhnoy, courtesy of NOMAD Circle, unless stated.
Gallery FUMI in Abu Dhabi.
Destinations by Bottega Veneta x NOMAD Abu Dhabi.
Super Loop in Abu Dhabi.
Terminal 1, Zayed International Airport – Photo by N. Berezhnoy.
