Progress doesn’t have to come at the expense of culture and tradition. This truism is evident from the moment you touch down in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. Men and women in traditional Arabic dress and designer sunglasses emerge from luxury-brand boutiques in glitzy shopping malls, while young Emiratis in sharp Western suits sip mint tea and puff shisha pipes on downtown hotel terraces. This dichotomy of tradition and modernity makes a powerful impression on visitors, including National Geographic Explorer Paul D. Miller aka DJ Spooky, who was struck by the paradoxical nature of the city.