We speak to Khalid Shafar, the renowned Emirati furniture designer, to uncover his favorite places to eat, shop, and hang in Dubai. The talented artist, who currently lives between the UAE and New Zealand, lists a crème de la crème of hotspots in our city which, must like his approach to design, are a personal expression of emotion. Click through this special edition of The Little Black Book to discover the designer’s patriotic values, secret nooks, and refined tastes.

interviewed by CAROLINE SEIF