Warehouses host glitzy Dubai's 'hipster' scene

DUBAI－In the glitzy city of Dubai, known for its megaprojects, futuristic skyscrapers and ostentatious malls, Dana Alhammadi sat in a cozy cafe learning how to make natural beauty products.

The "environmentally conscious" workshop at the KAVE cafe is part of an emerging cultural scene in a city which, after years of breakneck development, is exploring its alternative side.

If Dubai has a hipster center, it is Alserkal Avenue, an industrial area full of warehouses large and small that in 2008 became a hub for art galleries, startup businesses, and quirky retail outlets.