This month, the Monocle editorial team touched down in the United Arab Emirates for the inaugural Livex Abu Dhabi—the region’s premier Liveability and Investment Exhibition—to discuss a subject that remains central to the publication’s core mission: how to make modern cities more liveable, joyful, and conducive to a superior quality of life. Against the backdrop of a major gathering dedicated to urban futures, investment, and community development, the event brought together global thinkers, creators, and leaders to re-examine what it truly takes to build urban spaces that serve their inhabitants rather than merely accommodating them.
Among the marquee moments of the exhibition was a high-profile conversation featuring actor, entrepreneur, and producer Ryan Reynolds, who took to the stage alongside Monocle’s editorial director and chairman, Tyler Brûlé. Reynolds, whose relationship with the Emirati capital deepened significantly when he was named chief island officer of Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, in 2024, brought a distinct perspective to the discussion. Drawing directly from his diverse professional background spanning blockbuster cinema, entrepreneurial business ventures, global branding, and placemaking, Reynolds engaged in a wide-ranging dialogue about what transforms a physical location into a thriving, breathing community.
In conversation with Brûlé, the discussion quickly moved beyond traditional urban planning metrics such as economic output, infrastructure efficiency, or architectural grandeur. Instead, the two explored the intangible qualities that make communities flourish, examining how places maintain their vitality long after the initial gloss of good weather or a picturesque natural landscape has faded. For Reynolds and Brûlé, a genuinely liveable city does not necessarily equate to living in a utopian paradise or a sun-drenched resort. Rather, a truly successful urban environment is defined by something much deeper and more resilient: a distinct sense of identity, a robust local culture, and a profound sense of pride shared among its residents.
The appearance at Livex Abu Dhabi underscores a growing global conversation about the future of urban centers in an increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing world. As cities across the globe grapple with pressures ranging from population growth and environmental sustainability to economic shifts and social cohesion, exhibitions like Livex serve as critical forums for exchanging ideas. By bringing together perspectives from the worlds of media, design, business, and entertainment, the event highlighted how modern placemaking requires collaboration across disparate industries.
For Monocle, participation in the inaugural exhibition aligns closely with its longstanding editorial focus on urbanism, quality of life, and the nuances of city-making. Over the years, the media brand has charted the evolution of cities worldwide, consistently advocating for urban spaces that prioritize human scale, public spaces, local commerce, and civic engagement. The dialogue between Brûlé and Reynolds provided a fitting extension of these themes, bridging the gap between high-level urban strategy and the cultural elements that make people feel genuinely connected to where they live.
As Livex Abu Dhabi concludes its inaugural edition, the conversations sparked on stage—particularly regarding the emotional and cultural architecture of liveable cities—are expected to resonate throughout the broader discourse on urban development in the region and beyond. By focusing on identity, community pride, and the human experience of place, leaders, creators, and investors are increasingly recognizing that the future of cities lies not just in how they are built, but in how they are felt and remembered by the people who call them home.
