For Manar Abu Dhabi 2025, Khalid Shafar created Sadu Red Carpet, an installation that reimagines a symbol long associated with honour and welcome. This familiar ritual becomes the point of departure for a dialogue between global tradition and local identity. Extending over 70 metres, the work redefines the carpet at an architectural scale, bringing the rich geometric language of Emirati Sadu weaving together with vivid red illumination. Concrete blocks and integrated lighting form a luminous pathway, transforming an emblem of arrival into an immersive spatial experience.

To walk Sadu Red Carpet is to walk upon heritage. The work unites the prestige of ceremony with the enduring craft of Sadu, translating woven patterns from fibre into concrete and light. As visitors move through it, they encounter a visual language rooted in Emirati culture. Through this fusion, Shafar demonstrates how heritage can be carried forward in contemporary form, creating a radiant passage where the act of welcome becomes an affirmation of cultural identity.

Collaboration Partner: Manar Abu Dhabi
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Year: 2025