Urban art flourishes in flashy Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - A dusty industrial zone in flashy Dubai has become an unlikely home for a flourishing underground art scene that has grown even as the emirate's fortunes declined, which curbed appetites for extravagant pieces.

Al Quoz, home to stark warehouses and a huge cement factory in the shadow of the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, is a far cry from the glitz and glamour that has come to be associated with Dubai.

"It's raw. It's a clean plate that we can work on. This is a growing cultural hub, a warehouse district where the ceilings are high and rents are low," said Rami Farook, founder of the Traffic gallery, where Emirati, Iranian and Saudi artists show works ranging from graffiti art to blaring video installations.