Dubai : icon and incubator for arts and inspiring haven for artists

Art is an open dialogue between societies, a window that sheds light on people’s creativity and creations. It represents the elements of the homeland along with expressing peoples’ cultures, values and principles, spreading the message to all. On World Art Day, Dubai becomes an icon as it joins different types of art while being an inspiring haven for artists and art aficionados from all over the world.

Dubai’s interest in art and its sponsorship of artists know globally. Defined as an open space for creativity and creators, with a rich creative community that brings together cultures internationally from more than 190 countries. With the objective of promoting creativity, a sustainable component of its prosperity, many things have been done. Particularly, the world’s first long-term cultural visa launched in 2019 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The aim was to attract different artists and creators to take part in the development of the emirate. Another initiative is the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy launched by His Highness. It is the most recent one and seeks to transform, by 2025, Dubai into a global capital for the creative economy.

In accordance with this vision, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), as it is the culture, arts and heritage’s government authority, is devoted to providing support for creative talents in the Emirati community.
Dubai Culture provides a platform for the local and global creative community to celebrate artistic productions, within its programmes and projects as well as the initiatives and events, like the distinctive art festivals, such as Dubai Art Season that comprises several activities, including Sikka Arts Festival, Art Dubai and World Art Dubai. The current World of Banksy exhibition in partnership with the Mall of the Emirates, for example, is giving the incredible opportunity to shed light on the global creative and cultural sector in the emirate.

Moreover, Dubai Culture is dedicated to developing mechanisms, strategies, legislative frameworks, regulations and policies that ensure ease of doing business in the creative fields, investing in many partnerships. That’s why, the Authority is working on a project to develop the Al Quoz Creative Zone to be a vital, creative, and dynamic hub that would embrace local, regional and global creative talents, providing them with an integrated system to support their work, from the conceptualisation up to the promotion of their creative products.

Thank’s to the many arts opportunities, the emirate is a global city in its texture, spirit, vision and arts. Its culture will continue to create and produce creative systems that would ensure the flourishing of arts and artists in the emirate.