Ashes of the Arabian’s Pearl by Valentin Valette

Ashes of the Arabian’s Pearl emerged from the photographer’s desire to closely observe the dynamics of economic development in the Sultanate of Oman following the death of Sultan Qābūs in 2020. Faced with an urgent need for economic diversification as oil and gas resources declined, this documentary project sought to examine this period of monarchical transition and explore the prevailing trajectory for the region's monarchies in a world undergoing transformation and facing growing inequalities and climate change. The series cultivates a metaphorical conversation between two distinct demographics: the skilled artisans who craft the dreams of the nation, largely hailing from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and those from Omani entrepreneurial families.