Afghanistan's new rich – in pictures

Early evening at the entrance to one of the most expensive wedding halls in Kabul, the City Star Hall Photograph: Joel van Houdt for the Guardian

A wedding band arriving to perform at a ceremony at the City Star Hall Photograph: Joel van Houdt for the Guardian

A customer at the Karwan Car Seller dealership in northern Kabul, not far from the international airport Photograph: Joel van Houdt for the Guardian

Emzee, a fashion shop at the Majid mall in the Shar-e Naw (new city) area of Kabul Photograph: Joel van Houdt for the Guardian

Afghans in Sauna Nazary, a swimming pool which opened to the public a month ago Photograph: Joel van Houdt for the Guardian

Builder Faizullah Barakzai on the roof of the new Pomegranate Tower, where he lives in the top-floor apartment. The block's two giant pomegranates can be seen from many places in the city Photograph: Joel van Houdt for the Guardian

Faizullah Barakzai (right) confers with a worker inside the apartment Photograph: Joel van Houdt for the Guardian

An assistant in the kitchen of the top-floor apartment of the Pomegranate Tower Photograph: Joel van Houdt for the Guardian

Another assistant tends to the plants in Barakzai's penthouse Photograph: Joel van Houdt for the Guardian

Decorations in the top-floor apartment of the Pomegranate Tower Photograph: Joel van Houdt for the Guardian