Swalif Publishing House

21/06/2025

To conclude our architectural trip to Osaka, Japan, we were honored to host a two-day, ten-session symposium “Pillars of Arish: Architecture in Transition” at the UAE Pavilion in Expo Osaka 2025.

Aligned with the national pavilion’s theme, ‘From Earth to Ether’, the curation spotlighted Emirati-Japanese confluences in architecture, architectural trends in the UAE, and UAE-based offices and initiatives

ختامًا للوفد المعماري في أوساكا (اليابان)، استضافة ندوة “أعمدة العريش: العمارة في تحوّل” في جناح دولة الإمارات في إكسبو أوساكا 2025، والتي امتدت على مدار يومين وتضمنت عشر جلسات متنوعة.

وانسجاماً مع موضوع الجناح الوطني “من الأرض إلى الأثير”، سلّطت الندوة الضوء على تأثير العمارة اليابانية في الخليج والتطور المعماري في الإمارات، والمكاتب المعمارية الإماراتية من خلال استعراض ممارسات ومشاريع ومشاركات محلية متنوّعة.

19/06/2025

We were delighted to curate a trip throughout the architectural and cultural landscape of Osaka, Kyoto, Awaji, and Kobe, through the sponsorship and management of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority Cultural Grant.

Our delegation consisted of emerging to established architects and urbanists with practices based in the UAE. From May 16-18th we got to explore convention centers, conduct urban walking tours, and visit a handful of contemporary museums and cultural sites, engaging in the architectural history of this Japanese region.

سعدنا بتنظيم رحلة معمارية وثقافية إلى أوساكا، كيوتو، أواجي، وكوبي، بدعم وإدارة من منحة دبي الثقافية التابعة لهيئة الثقافة والفنون.

ضم وفدنا مجموعة من المعماريين والمخططين الحضريين من مختلف الشركات والمستويات. خلال الرحلة زرنا معالم معمارية ومتاحف ومواقع ثقافية معاصرة حيث إستلهمنا المفاهيم المعمارية اليابانية

Images courtesy of and

Traveling Delegates: .d04 .ae .almutawa .khalifa

05/06/2025

We are excited and thrilled to have organized an architectural delegation, which consisted a five-day tour and a two-day symposium at the UAE Pavilion, Expo Osaka 2025

Through the support of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority’s Cultural Grant Program, we’ve organized a delegation of architects and urbanists around Osaka and its neighboring cities (Kyoto, Kobe, and Awaji Island) exploring its architectural, historical, and artistic landscape.

The delegation’s tour ended with a two-day symposium titled ‘Pillars of Arish: Architecture in Transition,’ highlighting the intersection of historical Emirati architecture, sustainable design, and contemporary practices.

يسعدنا أننا نظمنا وفدًا معماريًا تضمن جولة لمدة خمسة أيام وندوة استمرت يومين في جناح دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة في إكسبو أوساكا 2025.

وبدعم من هيئة الثقافة والفنون في دبي من خلال برنامج “منحة دبي الثقافية”، قمنا بتنظيم وفد مكوّن من المعماريين والمخططين الحضريين في أوساكا والمدن المجاورة مثل كيوتو، كوبي، وجزيرة أواجي، لاستكشاف المشهد المعماري، والتاريخي، والفني في المنطقة.

واختُتم البرنامج بندوة بعنوان “بين أعمدة العريش: العمارة في تغيّر”، والتي سلّطت الضوء على تقاطعات العمارة الإماراتية التاريخية مع مفاهيم الاستدامة والممارسات المعمارية المعاصرة

09/01/2025

Have you gotten your copy of ‘Spaces that Remain’ yet? Visit www.swalif.store to place an order today!

Alongside our publication we are offering a tote bag of the featured neighborhood, breeze block key chains, and postcards of selected photography by

Images courtesy of

09/01/2025

04/12/2024

Join Us at Misk Art Week 2024 in Riyadh!

We are thrilled to announce our participation, once again, in the upcoming art book fair that is part of Art Week, taking place from Dec 5th to 10th, 2024, from 4:00-11:00PM.

Visit our booth to check out and purchase some of our publications and merch, as well as our latest release ‘Spaces that Remain’ with .nai 🌟

As usual, our booth will be featuring a selection of publications from our ‘Friends & Family’, including members from the Abu Dhabi-based collectives ( .343 ) and ( ) so do come by and check us out 🫂💟

27/11/2024

The ‘Spaces that Remain’ publication and bundle are officially out!!

After a soft-launch at and Focal Point, as well as our pre-order sale online, the full bundle is up on our website for purchase.

Included are our Exhibition Catalogues, Arabic Manuscripts, breeze block keychains, neighborhood tote bag, and postcards by Jalal!

Visit www.swalif.store to get your copies today!

Author: Rashed Almulla (.nai)
Photographer: Jalal Abuthina ()
Publisher: SWALIF Collective (.collective)
Managing Editor: Salem AlSuwaidi ()
Book Designer: Salman Dabwan ()
Copyeditor: Deena Rashid ()
Support Designer: Khaled Esguerra ()

23/11/2024

‘Spaces that Remain’ postcards borrow images from the publication and exhibition, showcasing photography by Jalal Abuthina’s () recent works on the now-vanished neighbourhoods of Shabiyyah Al-Shorta and Al-Defa’a, built in the late 1970s.

Purchase them now on the SWALIF website.

Jalal Abuthina, SWALIF, MABNAI ©️2024
- Talal Supermarket with Burj Khalifa under construction. (2007)
- Abdulsalam AlRafi Mosque juxtaposed to the Address Hotel and Burj Khalifa. (2012)
- Palm trees between the alleyways of Shaabiyah Al-Defaa’. (2012)
- Palm trees between the alleyways of Shaabiyah Al-Defaa’. (2012)
- A boy running towards Burj Khalifa, viewed from Shaabiyah Al-Defaa’. (2013)

Designed by: Khaled Esguerra ()

21/11/2024

As a celebration of the neighborhoods presented in the ‘Spaces That Remain’, we have designed a double-sided tote bag and breeze block key chains inspired by the infrastructure of the space.

Shabiyyat Al-Shorta and Al-Defa’a, built in the late 1970s, both feature on our exclusive STR tote through illustrated maps, while our breeze block keychains borrow from the architectural build and aesthetics of the neighborhood.

Purchase these today on the SWALIF website.

Designed by: Khaled Esguerra ()

19/11/2024

Nestled within the slips of the cover, we are proud and delighted to offer a fully translated Arabic manuscript of the text of ‘Spaces that Remain,’ as well as a catalogue of the exhibited artworks by Jalal Abuthina ().

Order your copies today through the SWALIF website!

Zines designed by and

18/11/2024

‘Spaces that Remain’ documents the rapid pace of Dubai’s development through the urban history of two cherished neighborhoods.

Click the link in our bio to order your copies through the SWALIF website today!

Produced by SWALIF x MABNAI, and supported by the UAE MCY National Grant (), this publication offers a sociological analysis of the neighborhood’s historical context and offers architectural insights into the build, while also archiving the twi exhibitions that took place of these photographs. City Walk Dubai has since replaced these neighbourhoods.

Author: Rashed Almulla (.nai)
Photographer: Jalal Abuthina ()
Publisher: SWALIF Collective (.collective)
Managing Editor: Salem AlSuwaidi ()
Book Designer: Salman Dabwan ()
Copyeditor: Deena Rashid ()
Support Designer: Khaled Esguerra ()

16/11/2024

We are thrilled to announce that the ‘Spaces That Remain’ publication is officially available for pre-order on our website!

Our latest book, produced by SWALIF x MABNAI, and supported by the UAE MCY National Grant (), offers a sociological analysis of the neighbourhoods of Shabiyyah Al-Shorta and Al-Defa’a, built in the late 1970s, now replaced by City Walk, while also documenting the exhibition presented at the Mosque of Reflection (2022) and (2023). The book will officially be released Nov 25th, 2024.

Author: Rashed Almulla (.nai)
Photographer: Jalal Abuthina ()
Publisher: SWALIF Publishing House (.collective)
Managing Editor: Salem AlSuwaidi ()
Book Designer: Salman Dabwan ()
Copyeditor: Deena Rashid ()
Support Designer: Khaled Esguerra ()