As major hubs of global transit, the cities of the Arabian Peninsula are a perfect representation of the contemporary worlds state of permanent transience. Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait City, Manama, and Riyadh, share an aesthetic of architectural extravaganza set amid astonishing landscapes, and boast a bustling everyday life defined by immigrants from all over the world. Traditions confront western modernity. What is home to one person is a stopover for another. These cities stand for a booming economy and rapid urban development, but also opportunity and dazzling encounters. Michele Nastasi has captured this all with a distinctive sense of presence, shaping an engaging journey through the pulsating life and the cultural diversity of these cities. MICHELE NASTASI (*1980, Milan) is known for his photographs of cities and architecture, which are exhibited and published internationally. He holds a PhD in History of Arts from the Ca Foscari University of Venice, and has done research work on the imagery of architecture.