Local Cultures – Global Spaces

Abstract

The Al Seef project in Dubai aims to attract global tourists by offering a leisure destination infused with Dubai’s cultural values. Originally inspired by the daily activities of local settlements, it sought to create a physically authentic representation of the local tradition. However, the place-making approach has detached itself from the real community networks and daily activities, turning into a performance solely for global tourists. Al Seef presents a superficial “local culture” tailored for tourists, lacking the authenticity of culture that emerges from the region’s everyday reality. According to De Certeau, consumption becomes a performative aspect of everyday life. The loss of cultural uniqueness in Al Seef is an inevitable consequence of standardized attractions catering to the majority of tourists, employing standardized consumption patterns. This environment diminishes the daily activities of local residents and disconnects them from their own culture, leading to a reduced sense of identity. Urban public spaces reflect the interaction between society and its surroundings. Even within a leisure destination, the everyday lives of urban migrants represent a distinct aspect of Dubai’s culture. By revisiting Al Seef, the study seeks to blend the cultural backgrounds of the city’s migrants with Dubai’s traditional culture, fostering global cultural diversity and reinforcing human-spatial relations. The project aims to explore possibilities for developing local community-based global cultural diversity while emphasizing sustainable strategies that enhance the region’s cultural authenticity, going beyond the sole attraction of foreign tourists.