Inside an ancient costume shop that preserves the magic of Halloween traditions in Abu Dhabi

- When Richard Cartwright arrived in the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, in 1975, only 4 years had passed since the founding of the United Arab Emirates. Seven years later, he opened "Boosters", a family store that over time became a treasure trove of costumes, toys, and childhood memories.

With Halloween just around the corner, we visit Cartwright to find out why generations of families return to his store in search of a bit of traditional magic, even in the age of online shopping. “Opening Boosters was not something I thought about beforehand, it just happened on its own,” Cartwright said. “I didn’t quite know what I was doing, but we just slogged through it.”

We liked the crazy side of it, it matched my personality.” He explained: “Boosters has always been known for its innovative products, and all of our assorted items are based on the idea of ​​fun.

What sets people apart from us and what they remember about us is all that fun and crazy stuff.” As for people’s interest in his store, Cartwright said, “There’s a special charm about old stores, and people sometimes like to live a little in the past.

They find in the grey-haired old man, who has been there for many years, an honest and trustworthy person.”