Arts, Musuem & Culture

In the heart of modern Dubai, where skyscrapers dominate the skyline, the names Shabiyyat Al-Shorta and Shabiyyat Al-Defa'a may seem like echoes of a forgotten era. Yet, for those who lived in these now-vanished neighborhoods, like Thabit Al Mawaly, the memories are vivid—woven into the fabric of their past. These neighborhoods, once thriving communities, have made way for glitzy developments such as City Walk, but for former residents, the nostalgia remains.

The recently published book, Spaces That Remain, serves as a love letter to these disappearing pieces of old Dubai. It is a collaboration between Rashed Almulla, an Emirati urban history expert and independent researcher, and photographer Jalal Abuthina. Through the pages of this evocative work, they capture a history of neighborhoods that have long since been swept away by Dubai’s relentless transformation.

The Spirit of the Lost Neighborhoods

Al Mawaly, a former resident of Al-Defa'a, shares in the book’s foreword the deep sense of community that once defined his home. “The evenings spent next door, with the neighbors' kids, playing Super Mario on what we actually called a 'family' console,” he reminisces. He recalls Iftar dishes exchanged during Ramadan, where neighbors brought food to one another's homes. It was a time when the neighborhood, though humble, thrived on communal spirit—something that’s harder to find today in Dubai’s sleek, modern developments.

Preserving Dubai’s Past through Photographs

Almulla and Abuthina’s collaboration stems from a deeper passion to preserve the essence of Dubai’s disappearing neighborhoods. What started as a casual exhibition in 2022 and 2023 at the Mosque of Reflection and Bayt Al Mamzar eventually led to the creation of Spaces That Remain. The book encapsulates over five decades of life in these neighborhoods, from the 1970s to 2020. Abuthina’s photographs, taken during his regular visits from 2006 until the demolition of Al-Defa'a, offer a rare glimpse into these communities.

The book not only showcases Abuthina’s poignant imagery but also integrates Almulla’s research, anecdotes from former residents, and historical maps, offering an immersive experience of a lost Dubai. “We wanted this publication to be interactive,” says Almulla. “It includes inserts like postcards, keychains, and tote bags, providing a tactile connection to the past.”

The Inspiration Behind the Project

Almulla’s journey toward creating this project began unexpectedly during a visit to a used bookstore in New York. Browsing through the Middle East section, he stumbled upon Abuthina’s photobook, Unseen Dubai. The cover featured two men walking out of a mosque with the Burj Khalifa in the background. To Almulla’s surprise, one of the men turned out to be his grandfather. This serendipitous discovery sparked Almulla’s desire to reconnect with his own childhood memories and track down Abuthina.

For Almulla, the neighborhoods of Dubai were not just spaces; they were memories that had shaped his sense of identity. “I used to walk around the area with my grandfather after prayer, watching children play football on the streets. It was such a lively neighborhood,” he recalls.

A Neighborhood’s Gradual Demise

Abuthina began capturing the neighborhood’s charm in 2006 without any particular agenda. He simply photographed the communities he knew as a young man growing up in Dubai. However, as the area began to be demolished to make way for the City Walk development, his visits became more intentional. He documented the slow transformation, watching as the houses were gradually marked for demolition.

Through his lens, Abuthina preserved what he calls a “pocket of time”—moments that encapsulated the essence of a bygone era. His photos reveal a quiet, almost timeless atmosphere, where children played in the streets, residents shopped at local stores, and greenery peeked through the dust of a changing city. Abuthina’s work captures the quiet beauty of a neighborhood on the cusp of being erased.

The Impact of Change

As the residents of Al-Defa'a were gradually relocated, they carried with them memories of the place they once called home. While some expressed nostalgia for the neighborhood, others appreciated the compensation and new homes they received. Almulla notes that time has moved on for these former residents, and they’ve since adapted to their new surroundings. Still, their memories of the old neighborhood remain etched in their minds.

A Call to Preserve the Past

Spaces That Remain is more than just a book; it is a testament to the importance of documenting history before it vanishes. Almulla and Abuthina hope their work inspires others to preserve the stories and memories of neighborhoods that are slowly being replaced by Dubai’s rapid urban growth. “Every memory, every place, and every culture is important to document,” says Almulla.

Abuthina sums up the essence of the project, describing the old neighborhood as “a modern sonnet of a forgotten aeon in the heart of a futuristic desert.” It is a sentiment that perfectly encapsulates their work—a visual and narrative tribute to the soul of old Dubai.

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