When constructing visual perceptions of cities, we often rely on two dominant viewpoints: the skyline and the street. In the case of Dubai, the skyline has come to define its global image, often overshadowing the everyday environments that shape the lived experience of the city. Commissioned by Dubai Culture for Google Arts & Culture, this series shifts the focus towards a more grounded reading of Dubai by centring on a recurring urban element—the parking meter. Positioned consistently within each frame, the meter acts as a visual anchor through which the city is observed across different contexts, from beaches and souks to dense urban corridors such as Sheikh Zayed Road. While newer parking systems have been introduced across parts of the city, these older meters continue to exist in specific areas, creating a layered urban condition where past and present coexist.

Within this context, the project is drawn to where these meters persist, using them as a constant through which the city can be read. Although not a study of the object itself, the parking meter becomes instrumental in shaping how the city is perceived. In the absence of iconic markers, it introduces a point of familiarity that allows otherwise ambiguous scenes to be recognised as Dubai. Equally, the meter stabilises scale. In contrast to perspectives that flatten or distort the city —such as aerial views— this approach maintains a human vantage point, preserving proportion and spatial clarity. The resulting sequence forms a linear reading of Dubai, where contrast, repetition, and everyday activity reveal a more nuanced and accessible urban identity.