From November 19 to 22, 2025, NOMAD makes its much-anticipated Middle Eastern debut inside the iconic Terminal 1 of Zayed International Airport, transforming the retired Gulf-modernist landmark into an immersive design experience. Known for staging collectible design fairs in extraordinary settings–from St. Moritz to Capri–NOMAD’s Abu Dhabi edition marks a new chapter for the itinerant platform.
All images are courtesy of NOMAD.
A Global Fair with Emirati Soul
Founded by curator Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte, NOMAD blurs the lines between art, architecture, and design. Its Abu Dhabi edition celebrates the UAE’s blend of heritage and innovation: a meeting point between desert modernism and contemporary craft. The choice of Terminal 1, designed in 1982 by French architect Paul Andreu at the request of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, bridges the emirate’s architectural legacy with its creative future.
Inside the Fair
More than twenty international galleries will present limited-edition furniture, objects, and art, from Nilufar (Milan) to Le LAB (Cairo) and Gallery FUMI (London). Expect historic works by Gio Ponti and new commissions by Osanna Visconti, Kustaa Saksi, and Nada Debs—a global conversation told through material, color, and form.
Special projects highlight NOMAD’s cross-disciplinary spirit:
- Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council × Ricardo Rendón merge Emirati Talli and Safeefah weaving with Mexican craftsmanship.
- Bottega Veneta’s Destinations celebrates 50 years of the house’s iconic Intrecciato weave through commissions from eight MENA designers.
- Maison Perrier-Jouët × Formafantasma present Cohabitare, an ecological art installation on coexistence and biodiversity.
- Orient 499 × David/Nicolas reinterpret the majlis as a sculptural social space named Mida.
- KAMEH transforms Terminal 1’s old airport benches from functional seats into emotional artifacts on the edge of extinction.
- Iwan Maktabi unites Hechizoo’s metallic, earth-inspired Colombian weavings with the sculptural calm of Lebanese-Milanese duo David/Nicolas, offering a cross-continental conversation in contemporary craft.
Beyond the Airport
In partnership with Jumeirah Saadiyat Island, NOMAD’s off-site exhibition Shifting Terrains traces the UAE’s evolving creative landscape, featuring designers from Lebanon, Palestine, Iran, and the Emirates.
A Cultural Takeoff
Coinciding with Abu Dhabi Art, NOMAD adds a collectible-design dimension to the city’s cultural calendar. Set against the futuristic backdrop of Zayed International Airport, this edition fuses global design thinking with the region’s artistic rhythm—turning a symbol of travel into a new destination for creativity.
For more information about NOMAD, click here.
