FUAD ALI

@hypeart : ‘The Pearl Majlis’, a public art installation by @duette_studio , invites visitors to pause, connect, and reflect. Inspired by the UAE’s maritime heritage and collectivist traditions, the softly glowing spherical structure creates a protective, immersive space for conversation and calm. Designers Fuad Ali (@fuadafro ) and Rahat Kunakunova (@raha_marmalade ) reimagine Dubai’s traditional social rituals, turning gathering and conversation into a shared experience. By day, the space offers a calm spot to rest; by night, it glows as a landmark within historic Al Shindagha. Produced with Blachere Illumination, the work is meant to be felt as much as it is seen ❤️ 🗓️23 January to 1 February 2026 📍Public Art House 436, Al Shindagha Museum 📍@sikkaplatform Photo: @ix4b , & @d.wtrmln @tribewnos , @chopemdownfilms

The Ephemeral Petunia Garden Our debut installation for @dubaidesignweek 2025, @d3dubai near building 2 - November 4–9. Inspired by Dubai’s fleeting winter bloom, this field of light reimagines the humble petunia into a landscape of reflection and glow an ode to memory, transience, and collective wonder. In collaboration with @blachere.middleeast Supported by: @dubaiculture Photo Credit: @d.wtrmln #PetuniaGarden #DuetteStudio #DubaiDesignWeek2025

@hypeform | @hypeart : Dubai-based creative lab @duette_studio has reimagined the ancient Emirati craft of ‘Saaf Nakheel’ with their latest installation, ‘Daoun.’✨ Rooted in the tradition of weaving palm fronds—once vital for building homes, roofs and everyday tools—‘Daoun’ transcends its origins to stand as a contemporary homage to the UAE’s rich cultural legacy 🇦🇪 The concept effortlessly weaves the past into the present, reflecting the resilience and resourcefulness of a craft that shaped generations. Located in the heart of the modern city of Dubai, the installation redefines heritage by bridging tradition and innovation in a truly evocative statement. The installation is a part of @dubaifestivals , located in Dubai Design District. Photo: @duette_studio @hypeform | @hypeart : استوديو @duette_studio ، الذي يتّخذ من دبي مقراً له، أبدع في إعادة تصوّر الحرفة الإماراتية التقليدية "سعف النخيل" من خلال أحدث أعماله الفنية التي تحمل عنوان "دَعون". مستمداً الإلهام من تقاليد نسج سعف النخيل، التي كانت تشكّل عنصراً أساسيّاً في بناء المنازل، والأسقف وصناعة الأدوات التي كانت تُستخدم بشكل يومي في الماضي، يرتقي "دَعون" بهذه الحرفة إلى مستوى جديد في إشادةٍ عصرية إلى الإرث الثقافي الإماراتي العريق. يجسّد هذا المفهوم تداخلاً متناغماً بين الماضي والحاضر، ويعكس قوّة وإبداع هذه الحرفة التي ساهمت في تشكيل ذاكرة أجيال بكاملها. يتربّع هذا العمل الفني في قلب مدينة دبي الحديثة، يُعيد تعريف التراث من خلال المزج ما بين التقاليد والابتكار في رسالة بصرية مؤثرة ومُلهمة. الصورة: @duette_studio

As #Dubai transforms once again for @ArtDubai , the city’s creative scene feels less confined to galleries and more embedded into the spaces around it. Few studios capture that energy quite like @Duette_Studio . Created in Dubai by Fuad Ali (@fuadafro ) and Rahat Kunakunova (@raha_marmalade ), Duette is an independent multidisciplinary creative lab working across areas such as art direction, spatial design, immersive installations, campaigns, and cultural storytelling. Their work moves fluidly between different sectors, always rooted in emotion, and the way people interact with a space. For KHAMSA, we interviewed the duo, Fuad & Rahat, where we talk about all things Duette. Discover more on khamsa.com. #CreativeTalks

01 — A small collection for ideas, sketches, notes & unfinished thoughts. Our special edition Duette Notebook/Sketchbook is now available to purchase only at the DXB Store, created for the 20 Years of Art Dubai at Madinat Jumeirah. 02 — We also released a limited 3D printed mini version of Daoun. A small collectible from one of our most personal art installations, available exclusively at the DXB Store for Art Dubai. 03 — Duette creatively directed and designed the DXB Store spacial experience, creating a modular environment inspired by temporary structures, scaffolding systems & the city’s material landscape. @the.dxb.store @artdubai @dubaidesignweek Lead Architect: @oluwatooki.a Photo credit: @d.wtrmln Graphic: @monnnaalisa courtesy of Duette Head of Operations: @knargiza

“Before the responsibilities, before the projects, before the late nights, before the school runs, before the dogs & ducks… there was us. Sometimes I look at the life we built together and quietly think, maybe this is the dream.“

“I was born in Addis, but I grew up in Dubai. Over 20 years in the city and country we call home, it has become our safe haven, our sanctuary. It’s where I learned everything I know, where I met my wife, where I’m raising my son, where all my friends, colleagues, and networks are. It’s where my identity was shaped. I’m not worried about safety, I think that question was answered in the very first hours of the attack. What we’re feeling now is the unknown… how long will this last? And maybe that’s exactly why I want to volunteer. Because we are living through something we don’t fully understand yet, and it deserves to be documented. These are not normal times, and being part of capturing this moment, in whatever way possible, feels important.” These are the words of Fuad Ali ( @fuadafro ), one of the interviewees participating in Kutubna’s “Documenting Culture in the Gulf in A Time of War” initiative. Fuad is Co-founder & Creative Director of Duette ( @duette_studio ), an independent multidisciplinary creative lab with a focus on creating work based on art, design and insights. “Documenting Culture in the Gulf in A Time of War” is a community-wide project documenting our lives in the Gulf during the US/Israel-Iran war. Learn more about the initiative in the link in our bio or DM us to be part of the project as an interviewer, interviewee, or volunteer to support the project in another way.

The Pearl Majlis at @sikkaplatform

Still feeling incredibly grateful. @sikkaplatform you’ve been so special to us. A huge thank you to the entire @dubaiculture and @sikkaplatform team for the trust and belief in what we could bring together in such a short time. That trust really means everything to a studio like ours. We were honoured to be visited by Her Highness @hhshklatifa , moments like that stay with you forever. And to Her Highness @lateefam , Her Excellency @halabadri , @khadijai , @shaima.alsuwaidi , and @suzikad , thank you for your continued encouragement and presence. It truly means a lot. A very special thank you to our incredible curator @mozahhl . From day one, you were calm, supportive, and solution-oriented, you genuinely made our lives easier and showed what real collaboration looks like. This is just the start. Extending special thank you to Nisrine Mehdi, @nunimonster , @artsbyghadah , @shurooqkm , Amrita, Thorsten, @manishsaini88 Huge thanks to our partners @blachere.middleeast for helping bring everything together and placing light exactly where it needed to be. Mehmet, Mahmoud & @musakrbck08 And to our talented creative ecosystem & community, @worldofgunk , @thebaranda , @visitalmultaqa , @alexinlights , @itscasavince thank you for filling the space with energy, dialogue, music, and warmth. You didn’t just participate, you brought it to life. A heartfelt thank you to all the incredible artists and designers who joined, stopped by, shared conversations, and gave thoughtful feedback. Those exchanges mean so much to us. And to our team behind the scenes, the long days, late nights, problem-solving, building, and carrying, none of this happens without you. @a_gumarov9 @spencershea @arthurdupeuty @d.wtrmln @ix4b @zayed_alhaddar @ahmedcarter @alkannzy @shihabseqeer.jpg @moody_aljabri Sikka is not just a festival. It’s people. It’s conversations. It’s shared moments. Thank you for making it feel so human, warm, and meaningful. With love, Duette [Fuad & Raha]

For the Sikka Art & Design Festival (@sikkaplatform ), Duette Studio (@duette_studio ), a multidisciplinary creative lab born out of the long-standing partnership between designers Fuad Ali (@fuadafro ) and Rahat Kunakunova (@raha_marmalade ), designed an installation you simply can’t miss. The Pearl Majlis, is visible long before you reach it: a softly glowing sphere suspended within a canopy of red fabric, hovering between old coral-stone houses and the slow shimmer of the creek. Installed at @alshindaghamuseum Public Art House 436 and commissioned by @dubaiculture . Read the full story on our website. Words: @sanpellegriolo

Three days…Two cultures…One shared rhythm! Not too long ago, we wrapped our latest activation with @asics_sportstyle_me at KAFD in Riyadh a pop-up experience that didn’t shout, but invited people to slow down, feel, and connect. This wasn’t about product placement. It was about presence. Together with the ASICS team, we designed a space that fused Japanese intention with Saudi soul, matcha with gahwa, bamboo with oud, stillness with storytelling. Over three days, we invited people into a sensory journey: - Morning Rajio Taisō (a Japanese movement ritual most of us had to learn from scratch), - Curated matcha workshops with thoughtful gestures, - A poetry night accompanied by Saudi coffee, - A gahwa masterclass that sparked cultural exchange. We designed every detail, the concept, the flow, the scent in the air, the ambient sound, even the registration journey. The goal was simple: craft a space where people feel something. And they did. They came in curious, left more grounded. More connected, to movement, to each other, to culture. Big love to @asics_sportstyle_me for trusting us to build this together. And to everyone who stepped into this space with an open heart, thank you. ♥️🤗 More soon, inshallah. — Concept & Creative Direction @duette_studio Production @duette_studio Photography @chopemdownfilms @arthurdupeuty @spencershea Matcha Partner @archi.saudi Rajio Taisō led by @yoga_fitness_instructor Build Partner @evolutiondubai Digital Experience @goodenough_ae Graphic Design @sorayastudio Location @kafd #DesignedByDuette #ASICSxDuette #ExperienceDesign #KAFD DuetteStud

For Dubai Design Week @dubaidesignweek , Duette Studio @duette_studio , the creative duo of Fuad Ali @fuadafro and Rahat Kunakunova @raha_marmalade , built something you simply can’t walk past — a glowing field of giant petunias that light up at night. The work, The Ephemeral Petunia Garden, was inspired by Dubai’s winter flower that blooms for just 90 days. By day, it mirrors the city and the people moving through it. By night, it turns into a softly glowing landscape — a place to slow down, take a photo, or just breathe. Photo by @d.wtrmln