Abu Dhabi Stories

For Ali Nasser, a video tape is more than just a cassette. It is a doorway to another world, a story waiting to unfold.

"A tape is like a book. It pulls you in, takes you on a journey, and lets you live a beautiful story with no real ending."

His passion for collecting tapes began in the late 1980s, at a time when owning just one meant sacrificing months of his savings. But for Ali, that first tape was priceless. "Whether it was ‘Life or Death’ or ‘The Empty Pillow,’ I won’t ever forget the feeling of holding it. It was like I had found treasure."

From Passion to A Living Museum in Abu Dhabi

There’s a heartwarming nostalgia in Ali’s eyes when he talks about the days when watching a movie was an experience, not just a click away. He remembers the family trips to the video store, the excitement of picking a film together, and the late-night gatherings around the TV.

"With technology, you can watch anything you want, anytime. But now, you watch alone, in your room. How will that lonely experience create memories?"

This longing for the past led him to create "Video Club"—a museum in Abu Dhabi dedicated to classic cinema and the lost art of video rentals.

Cinema’s Hidden Treasures in The ‘video Club’

Tucked away in a quiet corner of the city, Ali’s museum is a time capsule. The shelves are lined with Bollywood favorites, timeless Arabic classics like ‘The White Rose’ and ‘Dinner Date,’ and even a special section dedicated to Abdulhussain Abdulredha’s works.

Vintage movie posters hang on the walls, each one carrying a story of its own, collected by Ali over the years with the same passion that started his journey.

A Moment that Brought Time to A Standstill

One of Ali’s most cherished memories comes from a visitor who stood frozen in front of a single tape, her eyes brimming with tears. When he asked her why, she simply said, "I watched this movie with my father at Eldorado Cinema."

Her tears were a mix of joy and longing, a moment when the past felt tangible again.

For Ali, that is the essence of the Video Club—a space where the past comes alive, where memories are rewound like old tapes, and where a simple film can bring back the warmth of family nights, long before everything became instant and on demand.

In Abu Dhabi, a city rich in heritage and history, Al Hosn is an open-air museum that tells the story of generations. Explore it here.

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