The decommissioned Terminal 1 of Zayed International Airport is a landmark of regional modernism designed in the late 1970s by celebrated architect Paul Andreu. Photo: Nomad
The decommissioned Terminal 1 of Zayed International Airport is a landmark of regional modernism designed in the late 1970s by celebrated architect Paul Andreu. Photo: Nomad
The decommissioned Terminal 1 of Zayed International Airport is a landmark of regional modernism designed in the late 1970s by celebrated architect Paul Andreu. Photo: Nomad
The decommissioned Terminal 1 of Zayed International Airport is a landmark of regional modernism designed in the late 1970s by celebrated architect Paul Andreu. Photo: Nomad

What to expect from Nomad Abu Dhabi as the travelling art fair makes regional debut


Razmig Bedirian
  • English
  • Arabic

Even in its decommissioned state, Terminal 1 of Zayed International Airport remains an important example of modernist architecture in the region, as well as a symbol of UAE’s modernisation. Now, it is going to be the site of a unique international art and design fair.

Nomad Abu Dhabi will be running at the terminal from Wednesday until Saturday, and marks the first time the event is being held in the region.

Nomad has been described as an upscale alternative to the traditional art fair template. It was established in 2017 by Canadian-Italian architect Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte as a travelling showcase for contemporary art, collectable design and cultural exchange.

Part of what achieves that latter aspect are the sites that the event takes place in. In Monaco, it was held in a historic villa. In Venice, it took place in the Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel, a 15th century gothic structure. In Cannes, it was in Palais Bulles, designed by Hungarian architect Antti Lovag and owned by Pierre Cardin. In Capri, it was in Certosa di San Giacomo, the oldest historical building on the island. In St Moritz, it was held across several locations, including an aristocratic house, as well as a hotel with stunning mountain and lake views.

Built in the early 1980s, Terminal 1 of Zayed International Airport remains a symbol of UAE’s modernisation. Photo: Nomad
Built in the early 1980s, Terminal 1 of Zayed International Airport remains a symbol of UAE’s modernisation. Photo: Nomad

In each of these cities, the event has sought to offer an intimate format, with artworks and collectables curated in a site-specific manner. The architecture of the selected locations is a key component of the fair. As Nomad marks its regional debut, in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the event will respond to the modernist grandeur of Terminal 1.

The structure opened in 1982. It was designed by a French architect. Paul Andreu, who was also responsible for Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris and Terminal 3 at Dubai. The airport’s most striking feature is the huge tent-like roof, as well as the interior covered with tiles and Islamic patterns.

Gallery booths will be presented alongside site-specific presentations that respond to the airport's architecture. Photo: Nomad
Gallery booths will be presented alongside site-specific presentations that respond to the airport's architecture. Photo: Nomad

About 21 galleries and institutions will be taking part in the event. Local participants include The Third Line, The AP Room, Leila Heller Gallery, Nika Project Space and We Gallery. However, there is also a significant international footprint, with galleries from Cairo, Ibiza, Athens, Milan, Istanbul, Paris, Tunis and Florence, as well as others taking part.

The fair will also go beyond the gallery booths with Special Projects, or site-specific and collaborative activations. For instance, Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council – an organisation that works with female artisans from across the UAE and the wider Middle East, North Africa, South and South-east Asia regions – will unveil the Tilad Collection, in collaboration with Mexican artist Ricardo Rendon. Iwan Maktabi will present When Earth Dreamt in Gold, a solo exhibition by Hechizoo, the high-end textiles atelier from Colombia.

Inloco Gallery will bring the Golden Container to Nomad Abu Dhabi. Leslie Pableo for The National
Inloco Gallery will bring the Golden Container to Nomad Abu Dhabi. Leslie Pableo for The National

Design collective Super Loop will present Fluid Echoes, a collection that blends regional traditions of mother-of-pearl inlay and hand-carved wood within contemporary furniture pieces. Inloco Gallery, meanwhile, will bring their Golden Container to the venue, a cargo container covered in gold leaf and transformed into a space for paintings and artworks.

Nomad Abu Dhabi at Terminal 1, Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi; November 19-22; www.nomad-circle.com

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Welcome back. What was it like to return to RAK and to play for fans out here again?
It’s an amazing feeling to be back in the passionate UAE again. Seeing the fans having a great time that is what it’s all about.

You're currently touring the globe as part of your Legends of the Feels Tour. How important is it to you to include the Middle East in the schedule?
The tour is doing really well and is extensive and intensive at the same time travelling all over the globe. My Middle Eastern fans are very dear to me, it’s good to be back.

You mix tracks that people know and love, but you also have a visually impressive set too (graphics etc). Is that the secret recipe to Dash Berlin's live gigs?
People enjoying the combination of the music and visuals are the key factor in the success of the Legends Of The Feel tour 2018.

Have you had some time to explore Ras al Khaimah too? If so, what have you been up to?
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Sole survivors
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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Arsenal v Manchester City,

Sunday, Emirates Stadium, 6.30pm

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The bio

Favourite book: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer

Favourite quote: “The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist

Favourite Authors: Arab poet Abu At-Tayyib Al-Mutanabbi

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Updated: November 20, 2025, 5:03 AM