Guest: Fatima Al Mehairi
Title: Leading Interior Architect, Founder of Sands Studio (Abu Dhabi)

Q: Fatima, we’ve seen you frequently incorporate acrylic furniture in recent projects. What’s driving this design choice?

Fatima:
To be honest, it wasn’t about chasing a trend. It began with how acrylic interacts with light in the UAE’s environment. Our sunlight is powerful, almost sacred. Traditional materials often absorb or block it. Acrylic—it lets the light breathe. It makes a space feel lighter, quieter.

Q: Some might say acrylic feels too modern or cold for local cultural contexts. Do you agree?

Fatima:
Actually, I think acrylic expresses the contemporary Arab spirit better than many realize. Today’s Emirati aesthetics value subtle luxury, spatial calmness, and purity of form. Acrylic fits that language perfectly.

I once used backlit acrylic bookshelves in a private majlis in Al Ain. During the day, they almost disappeared. At night, when illuminated, they floated—like glowing geometry. The emotional impact was far beyond what marble or wood could offer.

Q: What about durability in extreme heat and UV exposure? Isn’t that a concern?

Fatima:
It used to be. But now, we work with UV-stabilized, heat-resistant acrylics—many coming from boutique factories in China. They’ve developed formulas tailored for desert climates. No yellowing, no warping.

I have an outdoor project in a seaside villa in Abu Dhabi. Acrylic fencing and coffee tables—two years in direct sun—and they still look pristine.

Q: Looking ahead, how do you envision acrylic evolving in your design vocabulary?

Fatima:
I don’t want acrylic to just be furniture—I want it to become a spatial language. Think illuminated floors, kinetic dividers, sculptural installations that respond to light and air. I want to design "visible light, tangible silence."

I also hope to collaborate with more Asian manufacturers on custom designs that reflect Gulf heritage—like Arabic mashrabiya patterns carved into acrylic, or sanctified gold-inlaid display platforms.

Closing Thought:

Acrylic is no longer just the transparent backdrop—it is the silent structure of atmosphere and emotion.
For Fatima and her generation of Emirati designers, light, material, and cultural identity now converge in this one remarkable medium.