« Ashes of the Arabian’s pearl » s’est en outre penchée sur la vie de milliers d’hommes, force ouvrière et bâtisseurs du pays, issus principalement de l’Inde, du Pakistan et du Bangladesh. Ce projet a eu le souhait d’illustrer leurs rôles majeurs dans la politique de développement en cours tout en rappelant leurs conditions de travail bien souvent délaissées par les décideurs et entrepreneurs omanais.

On January 10, 2020, the Sultanate of Oman mourned the death of Qābūs Bin Sa‘īd Āl-Būsa‘īdī, a beloved and cherished monarch whose fifty-year reign was marked by longevity, an absolute record in the Arab world. Throughout these years, Sultan Qābūs had shaped himself into a founding figure of modern Oman, dedicated to rapidly developing the country through oil wealth and inspired by the myth of the « nahda » or « renaissance ». Now, it falls upon his cousin, the current Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq, to carry on the development policy, « Oman Vision 2040, » initiated by Qābūs before his death.

Between the end of a successful reign for Sultan Qābūs and the commencement of Haitham's era, « Ashes of the Arabian's Pearl » embarks on an odyssey through a realm of intertwined destinies. This project explores a period of interconnection, a chrysalis of monarchic transition, and the pressing need for economic diversification as the oil and gas resources dwindle. From 2020 to 2023, this documentary project was born of a desire to closely observe the dynamics of economic development and the subjective future of this Gulf monarchy.

In that spirit, "Ashes of the Arabian's Pearl" cultivates a metaphorical conversation between two distinct demographics: those in positions of employment and those who serve in such roles. The documentary illustrates the lifestyles of numerous men, specifically the skilled artisans who craft the dreams of the nation, largely hailing from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh while contrasting their experiences with those from Omani entrepreneurial families.