Dubai - The Courtyard

The Courtyard is a unique building made of glass and steel that houses a variety of shops including furniture and antiques, artists' studios, photographic studios, media and advertising companies and a coffee shop.

There are several art galleries within the Courtyard that offer regular exhibitions including Total Arts, which highlights artists and art influenced by the culture of the Middle East.

The Courtyard itself is the main attraction from the wrought iron entrance gate to the varying façades combining building styles from around the world. Examples of the styles include an Islamic entranceway, a Moorish inspired façade, a traditional UAE fort, an Egyptian tomb, a crumbled stone house and the façade of a traditional wind-tower house in Dubai.

Designed by Dariush Zandi, architect, the Courtyard was built as a quirky idea to differ from the usual Dubai architecture. Dariush is also the owner of the Total Arts Gallery that operates from the Courtyard.