^{By Marie Claire Maison Arabia | Images Courtesy of NOMAD Circle}

To mark this milestone edition, we spoke with Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte during an in-depth conversation held in September. The full interview is featured in Issue 4 of Marie Claire Maison Arabia, now available, where his reflections on context, cultural resonance, and the evolving language of collectible design unfold with greater depth.

More than a fair, NOMAD is an immersive dialogue where design, art, and architecture converge. From 19 to 22 November 2025, the landmark edition will debut in the Middle East at the cinematic Terminal 1 of Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi. Within this iconic space, visitors will experience a thoughtfully curated encounter where heritage, modernity, and innovation come together in a resonant, immersive setting.

We speak with co-founder and director Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte about reimagining cultural spaces, weaving heritage with contemporary vision, and the evolving language of collectible design.

NOMAD has always been more than a fair – it’s an immersive dialogue between design, art, and architecture. How do you define this philosophy, and how has it evolved since your first editions?

The idea was never to replicate the mechanics of a fair, but to create a context where objects and ideas could coexist meaningfully. Each edition becomes a form of cultural topography: the architecture sets the rhythm, the curatorial vision frames the dialogue, and the participants complete it through their presence. Over the years, this philosophy has evolved from intuition to methodology. We’ve learned that intimacy is a form of luxury — that scale matters less than resonance. NOMAD’s identity lies in its ability to transform context into content, inviting reflection on how we inhabit space and time.

Terminal 1 at Zayed International Airport is such a bold setting for NOMAD. What drew you to this architectural icon, and how does its cinematic design influence your curatorial vision?

Paul Andreu’s Terminal 1 is one of the most extraordinary examples of Arabian modernism — a structure that captures both the optimism of the early Emirates and the universal language of 1970s architecture. It is a building with memory, once a gateway for millions, now reborn as a cultural vessel. For many Emiratis, it holds deep personal significance, having served as the main terminal for nearly 40 years. Curating within this setting means engaging with its geometry, its light, and its emotional resonance. The circular plan, monumental volumes, and inherent sense of transit — arrival and departure — shape the entire experience.

You often speak of luxury at NOMAD as something that ‘emerges organically’ from context and space. How will visitors experience this philosophy in Abu Dhabi?

Experience, for us, is born from context. It’s not something you design artificially, it unfolds naturally when architecture, light, and content align. In Abu Dhabi, the experience will be immersive yet contemplative: visitors will move through a sequence of atmospheres where the material, spatial, and human dimensions connect seamlessly. The goal is to create an environment where time slows down, where every encounter feels intentional. What visitors will take away is not spectacle, but a unique experience.

You’ve worked across the Middle East and Africa, engaging with heritage and modernity in diverse ways. How has this shaped your approach to curating cross-cultural dialogue?

Working across continents has taught me that culture is not static — it’s a living continuum, and there is much to learn from diverse creative processes. Whether in the Gulf, the Levant, North Africa, or West Africa, I’ve been inspired by the ways artists and makers reinterpret inherited knowledge to speak to the present. Curating these encounters means creating spaces where different cultural realities can coexist and new perspectives emerge. I aim to connect these narratives within a global conversation on design, always with respect for local rhythm and identity.

Abu Dhabi is becoming a cultural hub, with institutions like Louvre Abu Dhabi and the forthcoming Guggenheim. How does NOMAD add to this evolving global narrative?

Abu Dhabi has built one of the most thoughtful cultural ecosystems in the region, driven by vision and long-term commitment. NOMAD adds a complementary layer, one that is more experimental, independent, and experiential. We bring global galleries and collectors into dialogue with local institutions, encouraging exchange and the discovery of new realities. In this way, NOMAD becomes a cultural interface: a place where the institutional and the private meet, and where the city’s architectural heritage finds a new voice through contemporary creation.

This edition weaves together Islamic aesthetics, Gulf modernism, and contemporary design. How do you strike the balance between local heritage and international innovation?

The balance emerges through dialogue, not contrast. Islamic geometry, Gulf modernism, and contemporary design share a common concern for proportion, light, and transcendence. When approached with sensitivity, these threads naturally weave together. Our curatorial approach is to invite designers to respond to place — to listen before they act. The result is not a juxtaposition of styles, but a layered conversation that reflects how global creativity can resonate with local spiritual and architectural values.

Craft and materiality are central to your work, from Carwan Gallery to Fonderia Artistica Battaglia. How are traditional Emirati crafts and regional techniques being reimagined through NOMAD?

Craft is a vital element of culture. In Abu Dhabi, we are collaborating with artisans who work with palm fronds, clay, and textiles, as well as with contemporary designers exploring new materials through ancestral techniques. We are also proud to support and promote local institutions such as House of Artisans Abu Dhabi and Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council, both of which have played an important role in reviving and redefining craft traditions in the UAE through a contemporary lens. Through commissions and collaborations, we create bridges between generations, encouraging reinterpretation rather than imitation. The goal is to reveal how heritage can evolve, how tradition can not only be preserved but transformed into something alive and relevant.

Projects like Bottega Veneta’s ‘Destinations’ spotlight ancestral craft and contemporary interpretation. What excites you about these collaborations between global houses and local voices?

What excites me is when a brand moves beyond visibility to truly engage with local culture. The ‘Destinations’ project with Bottega Veneta is not simply a marketing exercise — it’s a genuine curatorial collaboration. It brings together regional design languages and craftsmanship, highlighting the beauty of process and provenance, and creating a dialogue with the maison’s artisanal tradition in Italy. When a global maison enters into conversation with local voices, something transformative happens: both sides evolve. It is a meaningful form of cultural exchange that celebrates craftsmanship, shared creative values, and greater visibility for regional designers.

Looking ahead, how do you envision the future of collectible design, especially in regions like the Gulf where cultural identity and modernity are constantly in dialogue?

The future of collectible design will be rooted in consciousness — ecological, cultural, and social. Designers are increasingly returning to local materials, craft ecosystems, and narratives that connect communities. In the Gulf, this dialogue between identity and modernity is especially vibrant. I believe we will see design evolve beyond the object — into experience, ritual, and architecture. Collectible design will become a form of storytelling, shaped by geography and memory. It will be less about accumulation, and more about belonging.