Actor and entrepreneur Ryan Reynolds praised Abu Dhabi's growing arts and culture sector during a session at the three-day LiveX conference held at Adnec, saying the emirate has "done very, very well" in building its artistic infrastructure.
Speaking to an audience of government officials, developers, investors and international experts, Reynolds argued that cities looking to thrive need to first cultivate a strong sense of collective identity among residents, rather than chasing perfection. Once that identity takes hold, he said, a city naturally develops its own eccentricity and becomes what he called a "boom town."
Describing his own career, Reynolds said he sees himself more as a storyteller than a traditional actor, given that he juggles multiple ventures simultaneously. He also spoke about creative collaboration, saying he actively invites colleagues to challenge his ideas, because the best results often come from pushback rather than agreement. He added that most successful people he knows have failed far more often than they have succeeded.
The comments came as Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island continues expanding its cultural offerings ahead of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's opening on December 11. The appearance of international figures like Reynolds at events such as LiveX underscores the emirate's rising profile as a regional hub for arts and culture, part of a broader strategy to diversify the city's identity beyond business and tourism.