Balancing Modernity and Identity and aiming to become a cultural hub

Cultural Heritage

Culture and tourism are seen as crucial in diversifying Dubai’s economy. Tourism is steadily increasing, and developing in tandem with the cultural sector. Dubai is also home to 190 nationalities, witnessing a growing demand for diversified cultural offerings for its residents as well as its visitors.

The city’s founding prosperity from pearls is celebrated in Khor Dubai. The natural seawater inlet of the Arabian Gulf is located in the heart of Dubai and the Khor (creek) divides the city into two parts: Bur Dubai and Deira, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the creek and the seashore are still found the traditional boat-building areas where large wooden boats are built, restored and maintained by skilled workers and naval entrepreneurs.

The Emirate’s main cultural seasons take place in the winter months, with key events including Dubai Art Season in March and Dubai Design Week in November. These festivals are an opportunity to celebrate city wide. For example, Art Week also includes activities and events like Sikka Art Fair, Art Dubai and Art Week at Alserkal Avenue, as well as a range of outdoor programming and public art projects, interactive initiatives, workshops and exhibitions that celebrates the Emirate’s growing creativity.

In 2021 Dubai hosted the World Expo under the theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future‘ which focused on partnerships and cooperation, acting as a catalyst to connect minds from around the world, and inspire participants to mobilise around shared challenges. 

The Museum of the Future was opened in 2022 and is a landmark cultural centre devoted to innovative and futuristic ideologies. The museum is an incubator for ideas, a driver for innovation, and a destination for inventors and entrepreneurs from around the world to meet and exchange.

Embracing Change

The Government of Dubai has made major investments to develop the city’s infrastructure, broaden its offer, and providing adequate policies, subsidies, support systems, and services to increase its attractiveness to the cultural and creative sectors.  

There has been an increased awareness in Dubai of the need to conserve and promote the Emirate’s heritage and cultural identity. This has encouraged the development of strategies to increase cultural participation and engagement of the local community and residents and plans to strengthen Dubai’s position as the region’s leading cultural destination.  

As the United Arab Emirates continues to modernise and develop, recent projects have focused on preserving and celebrating the nation’s heritage and history. From The Etihad Museum to the transformation of Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, and the Al Shindagha Museum, there has been a wave of investment in the nation’s unique cultural fabric. 

The Role of the Policymaker

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority’s new strategic roadmap to 2025, which was approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was launched and is being led by its Chairperson, Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.  

The roadmap charts the Emirate’s ambition to transform into a global centre for culture, a thriving hub for talent, and an incubator for creativity – making Dubai one of the leading cultural destinations in the region and a creative metropolis. Dubai aims to be a platform for diverse regional and global cultural exchange and innovation, and to foster a sustainable cultural ecosystem, while nurturing talent to enhance cultural diversity and social cohesion. 

The Future

Dubai Creative Economy Strategy aims to transform the city into a preferred destination for global talents, as well as the global capital of the creative economy.  The goal is to increase the number of creative and cultural companies to 15,000, with 140,000 jobs and a contribute 5% to the emirate’s GDP. 

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