The continuities they draw between past and present, between heritage sites and vanguard architectures, underline the rapidity of urban change in the region since the second half of the 20 th century. If the content sometimes varies, the images themselves are recurrent, as are the narratives they express. 2ĢThese images are familiar to anyone who has seen the promotional videos elaborated by the tourism departments of Arab Gulf cities. As she washes her face with the fresh water running through the aflāj, the traditional irrigation network used in the oases of the Arabian Peninsula, the palm foliage makes way for the intricate designs of the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s dome. 1 Different video, similar snapshot: here a woman walks barefoot in a palm grove.

A white sail then occupies the screen, flickering in the wind the camera zooms out to a glimpse of a man navigating a dhow another zoom‑out, and in the background appears Burj Al‑Arab, the Dubai luxury hotel whose architectural shape, designed by renowned international firm W. S. Atkins, is meant to echo the sail of a ship. 1, 2016, 1’31, (.)ġA falcon lands graciously on a man’s arm in the desert, and the video fades into a bird’s eye view of Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.

2 Visit Abu Dhabi, “Abu Dhabi – Your Extraordinary Story”, Nov.1 Visit Dubai, “City of Dubai, Spirit of Dubai 2015 – Visit Dubai”, Sep.

Ougarit by Camille Ammoun