The Authors
Sherina Al Sowaidi '17 is a freshman majoring in economics at NYUAD. She hopes to also complete a minor in visual arts. (Cultural Foundation and ADNOC Residential Buildings)
Maedot Andargie '15 studies civil engineering at NYUAD. Her interest in Abu Dhabi’s architecture stems from her passion for design and engineering. (Hamed Center and Zayed Sport City Stadium)
Iman Badwan '14 double majored in psychology and visual arts at NYUAD. She is Palestinian Filipino and has three native languages - English, Arabic and Tagalog. (Hamdan Center, Sheraton Hotel & Resort, and Abu Dhabi Municipality)
Daria (Dasha) Baidakova '17 comes from Saint Petersburg. A cellist and a surfer, she is interested in Middle Eastern studies, and in architecture and its effects on people. (Al-Otaiba Building and Al-Maqta'a Bridge)
Xinyang Chen '16 studies economics at NYU. She is from China and lives in New York City. (Grand Mosque and Qasr Al-Hosn Villas)
Rachel Goodfriend '14 is a graduate of NYU’s urban design and architecture program. She began her urban research fieldwork in Accra, Ghana in 2012 and has recently extended her scope of research to Abu Dhabi. She works to understand the complex urban housing issues common to developing countries. (Sha'biyat or National Houses and Courthouse)
Jasmina Isakovic '17 is an aspiring architect and applied physicist with fiery passion for geometric abstraction. She is the biggest fan of Antoni Gaudí and her dream is to visit Barcelona and enjoy his masterpieces first-hand. (Volcano Fountain, Garden Tower, and Snowhite Building)
Kefa Kabanga '15 is curious about how architecture links to shapes, and is driven by urban politics and economics. He’s very interested in development and the political and economic issues surrounding the increasingly urban nature of the world. (Vegetable Market)
Anna Kurkova '15 is a visual artist. She grew up in Belarus and went to school in Scotland. She is now a student at NYUAD majoring in arts and economics. (Central Market and Al-Omaira Building)
Pascal Menoret is the author of several books on Saudi Arabia, including Joyriding in Riyadh: Oil, Urbanism, and Road Revolt (Cambridge University Press 2014). He teaches Middle Eastern Studies at NYUAD.
Layo Olayiwola '15 is a visual arts student. (Al-Ibrahimi Building and Family Park Mosques)
Zahida Rahemtulla '15 is a double major in literature and Arab crossroad studies. (Old Fish Market and Al-Mullah Building)
Tom Taylor '14 majored in social research and public policy, and has a soft spot for the quirks of Abu Dhabi's urban form. (Obeid Al-Mazru'i Building, Bus Terminal, and Taxi Stand)
Khadija Toor '16 is majoring in visual arts. During the production of this guide, she found a new love for architecture and hopes to pursue it in the future. (Buty Al-Otaiba Building and National Theater and Cultural Center)
Erika Linda Zogla '17 studies mathematics and has an interest in entrepreneurship and dance. She comes from Latvia, and considers cultural diversity the best feature of Abu Dhabi. (Khalifa Al-Swaidi Building and InterContinental Hotel)
