Traffic Islands

The automotive art form in which the Arabian Gulf truly excels

01 The Clocktower

Dubai You’d expect buildings such as the cloud-bothering Burj Dubai would render this 1960s structure obsolete. But it has stood the test of time thanks to a striking design, a palm-fringed setting and high-firing fountains. It was the first piece of contemporary architecture to be commissioned in Dubai. You could say it started a trend.

02 The Car Crash

Jeddah Saudi Arabia is hardly known for its contributions to the art world, but urban Jeddah offers an unexpected feast of abstract structures by such as Joan Miro and Henry Moore, as well as whacky stuff involving aircraft and giant bicycles.

03 The Coffee Pot

Muscat If this larger-than-life vision of free-flowing coffee and stacked cups were anywhere else in the world, it would probably bear the logo of an international coffee chain. In Oman, it symbolises traditional Bedouin hospitality. During Ramadan, local drivers make a point of avoiding the roundabout in daylight hours.