From April 8 to April 11, NYU Abu Dhabi’s campus held the Night Souq each evening from 4 to 9 p.m. Bright string lights lit the way to D2, inviting students, faculty, and visitors to explore a wide range of handmade crafts, jewelry, clothes, skincare items, and more. The Night Souq, now in its fourth year, has become a beloved event for the campus community. As visitors wandered between booths, they came across a variety of unique and interesting items: Korean jewelry, handcrafted lip balms and creams, personalized keychains, custom maps, candles, sportswear, women's fashion, bags, and more. Each stall offered something different, and more importantly, each artisan came with a story. One artisan from India who makes handmade skincare in her house shared that her journey began at age 13 when she started experimenting with different textures and ingredients at home. What started as a hobby grew into a full-time business, and today, she sells her products both at events like the Night Souq, in large shopping centers, and even outside of the UAE. She explained that it began as a personal interest but soon turned into something she could share with others. Planning the event takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work. The main organizer, Monica, explained that it involves getting official approval from the Department of Tourism and reaching out to numerous local artists and small business owners, many of whom are discovered through social media. “We always get more applications than we can take,” she shared. “It’s great to see so much interest, but it’s hard not being able to accept everyone.” Even though the Night Souq is hosted at other schools and universities across the UAE, the organizer says NYU Abu Dhabi is their favorite venue. “When the lights go up, students get excited. There’s something special about this place,” said the organizer.

Yet, not everyone on campus knew about the Souq ahead of time. Some students said they only found out about it once they saw the setup outside. The Night Souq often appears during big campus celebrations, like National Day, Open Campus events, or shows at the Arts Center. Each stall at the Souq feels like its own little world, full of warm conversations, creative products, and passionate stories. Whether someone was picking out a bracelet, learning about skincare ingredients, or simply enjoying the festive atmosphere, the event offered small but meaningful moments of connection for everyone. With the summer heat approaching, the Night Souq will return in early May, but move indoors to keep the spirit alive in cooler comfort. If the evening could be captured in one word, “atmospherically” would be the most fitting choice.