Our Story
🌴Our Story🌴
Under the Ghaf Tree was born from the generosity and patience of Emirati heritage and culture experts who listened to my endless questions, shared their insights, and reviewed my terribly drawn reference sketches.
This book began as a way to introduce my friends from abroad to Emirati culture. But as their questions grew, so did my curiosity.
Each encounter with experts in museums, through mutual friends, or pure chance, revealed new layers of beauty. I kept writing it all down until one day I realized: I'd basically written a book.
Sara Al Mheiri is a cultural curator and filmmaker from the United Arab Emirates. She holds an MA in Ethnography and Documentary Studies from University College London and a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Film from Northeastern University.
Her practice is rooted in uncovering the overlooked beauty of the familiar, found in the UAE’s landscapes, rituals, and collective memories.
When she’s not curating immersive exhibitions that bring Emirati culture to life, she can often be found exploring hidden corners of the country, drawing inspiration for her work across film, installation, and now, this book.
Bayan Dahdah is a multidisciplinary artist, interested in fusing different mediums to effectively tell stories. Using the tactile touch of physical art (sketchbooks, paintings), and the freedom of digital art (animations, illustrations and more) she aims to retell her memories and document her journeys. She currently works as a freelance graphic designer for various brands, companies and magazines, as well as a frequent collaborator with different photojournalists, artists and documentarians.