Life
As the year draws to a close, I find myself sipping a warm cup of gahwa, reflecting on the word that has defined so much of my year – community. After all, 2025 was declared the Year of Community in the UAE, and somehow, it felt deeply personal. So, I did what I do best, I set the intention to celebrate it, live it and embody it the way I like to.
If you’ve followed my journey online or crossed paths with me at one of my gatherings, you’d know that community is not just a theme I speak about, it’s the heartbeat behind everything I do. I’ve always been the kind of woman who honours connection, who believes that the real beauty of life lies in how we come together, hold space for one another, and create meaning in shared moments.
In the Arab world, community isn’t a buzzword; it’s a way of being. It’s how we gather every weekend around the family table, how the scent of gahwa and cardamom fills a majlis as stories are shared, how laughter is the best musical background echoing from our majlis and how we check in on our family and friends before they even ask. It’s in the rhythm of our days, passed down through generations like an inheritance.
Here in the UAE, that sense of togetherness is woven into our national fabric. From the late Sheikh Zayed’s vision of unity that brought seven Emirates together, to the way modern-day communities form across art galleries, start-ups, and cultural events, the spirit remains the same: we rise higher when we rise together.
This past year, I found myself living that truth through every project, gathering, and conversation. Whether it was bringing women together through my biweekly CC Club – my inner circle that turned reflection into ritual – or creating a Ramadan majlis, every moment reminded me that community isn’t built in scale, it’s built in sincerity.
What I found most meaningful was realising how easily connections unfold when we create the space for it. It didn’t matter where people came from or what they did, once we gathered, titles faded, and sincerity took its place and there is something deeply grounding to witness that kind of togetherness.
That’s when I realise: community is not about the number of people you reach; it’s about the depth of the connections you create.
We live in a world that often glorifies independence, where success is measured by how far one can go alone. But I’ve come to believe that true strength lies in interdependence, in knowing how to build bridges, not walls. And that is a value I hold deeply; to keep bringing the community together. The UAE embodies that balance beautifully. We’re a nation that celebrates individuality yet thrives on unity. You see it during National Day, the flags adorning every balcony, the sound of children reciting poetry for their homeland, the pride in every smile. It’s a reminder that identity flourishes most in belonging. And so, as I look back at this year, one filled with collaborations, storytelling, and shared spaces, I feel a deep sense of gratitude. For every conversation that became a friendship. For every gathering that turned into a safe space. For every moment that reminded me why I do what I do.
Community, to me, is the art of showing up – again and again. It’s the woman who brings her friend to a majlis because she knows she needs it. It’s the unspoken bond between creatives who want to build something meaningful in the region. It’s the way we choose to see each other, with compassion, curiosity, and care.
As we step into a new year, I hope we continue to nurture the communities around us, to celebrate the big and the small, the familiar and the new. Because at the end of the day, community isn’t something we build once. It’s something we become.
Asma Al Bulooki is the founder of Constant Catwalk, a luxury brand strategist and creative storyteller based in the UAE.
Source: https://emirateswoman.com/life/feed/
