Dubai Highlights Culture to Build a Better Future

The city has created specialized cultural districts, such as the Al Quoz creative zone, to support a lively arts and creative scene. This effort promotes creative expression and helps define a progressive cultural identity for Dubai. Art & Object recently interviewed Hala Badri, Director General of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, to discuss how the government’s creative economy strategy emphasizes culture as a crucial part of the city’s economic plans.

Paul Laster: What role has culture played in the development of Dubai?

Hala Badri: I believe culture is at the heart of Dubai’s evolution. We have built this city by embracing its past. The heritage of the Creek, our museums, and our libraries are part of who we are, and they give this fast-growing metropolis the confidence that comes from knowing its own story.

Culture must extend beyond gallery walls. That’s why we have deliberately placed art in parks, neighbourhoods, and public spaces, weaving it into everyday life. That way, it opens conversations, invites every generation in, and it shows our youth that creativity is not just welcomed, it’s encouraged.

As an industry, it also drives real economic and social progress. Look at what’s happening in Al Quoz Creative Zone, or how our designers are being showcased internationally, from Paris to the Venice Biennale, or even our musicians performing at Carnegie Hall. These opportunities don't happen by chance. We build the pathways. The creative economy brings investment, jobs, and global collaboration. For me, culture has been one of the strongest levers in shaping Dubai’s present and its future.

PL: How have you observed Dubai’s cultural scene change since you became Director General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority in 2019?

HB: When I joined Dubai Culture in 2019, the city already had a strong creative spirit, but it was largely concentrated in specific districts and events. Over the past years, we have worked to make culture more visible, more accessible, and more deeply integrated into everyday life.

We have introduced long-term strategies such as the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy and the Design Sector Strategy 2033, both aimed at building a sustainable, high-impact ecosystem. Funding mechanisms like the Dubai Cultural Grant are giving practitioners the means to develop their work, while the Dubai Public Art Strategy has brought large-scale, permanent installations into neighbourhoods and public spaces. Our museums and heritage sites have expanded their reach, telling Dubai’s story in ways that resonate locally and internationally.

Just as importantly, we’ve deepened collaboration— between government, private sector, and creatives— and increased our participation in global cultural forums. This has helped position the emirate as both a contributor to and a convener of the international conversation on culture.

PL: What initiatives has the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority implemented during your tenure as Director General that have contributed to the growth of the visual arts scene in the United Arab Emirates?

HB: Advancing the visual arts has remained a key focus. Since its launch in 2023, the Dubai Public Art Strategy has turned the city into an open-air gallery, commissioning pieces that bring artistic expression into everyday settings. Sikka Art & Design Festival has grown in both reach and vision, with newly commissioned projects, immersive installations, and space for emerging voices from the UAE and the broader Gulf to test ideas and share their work.

The Dubai Cultural Grant has offered artists the means to exhibit their work and build new skills. It's played a part in getting UAE-based talent onto international stages, including the Venice Biennale and Maison&Objet in Paris. 

At the same time, Dubai has made space for global exchange. The World Cities Culture Summit, held here in 2024, brought together voices from across the world to discuss the future of culture in cities. That momentum will continue with two major gatherings: the International Council of Museums (ICOM) General Conference in 2025, and the International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA) the following year. Both will bring artists, researchers, and institutions to the UAE, opening up new possibilities for collaboration and long-term partnership.

PL: How significant have Art Dubai Fair and Sikka Art & Design Festival been to the development of the region’s art and design scene?

HB: Sikka Art & Design Festival began in 2011 as a space for emerging artists from the UAE and across the Gulf to connect with the public in a meaningful way. Based in the historic neighbourhood of Al Shindagha, the festival takes shape across a cluster of heritage homes and narrow lanes. In 2025, it brought together more than 250 creatives, with over 350 pieces exhibited throughout the neighbourhood.

Art Dubai, launched in 2007, has evolved into a key gathering for leading galleries, curators, and collectors. It gives artists from the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa a route into critical and commercial conversations beyond the region. Over time, the fair has expanded the international lens on regional practices and helped position Dubai as a global meeting point for the arts.

PL: What impact has your public art program had on the city, and what role do you envision it playing in Dubai's future?

HB: Since the Dubai Public Art Strategy launched in 2023, the way the city encounters creativity has shifted. The aim was never simply to place a few sculptures or murals in open spaces, but to make art part of the daily rhythm. Works are positioned where people pass them on foot, during a commute, or while meeting friends. A single piece can change the feel of a street or start a conversation between people who might otherwise never meet.

The programme is also playing a role in breathing new life into historic and developing districts. In partnership with Alserkal Arts Foundation, Dubai Culture issued open calls for major commissions in Al Shindagha Historic District, Al Quoz Creative Zone, and Hatta. Each site was led by a local curator to ensure the work grows from the character and history of the place. 

In the years ahead, the plan is to add new works annually, placing them in parks, along the waterfront, at transport hubs, and in civic spaces across Dubai. The aim is for each neighbourhood—whether it’s a busy commercial strip or a quiet residential pocket—to have art that feels like it belongs there, while still connecting to the city’s broader cultural story.

PL: Are Dubai-based artists being commissioned to create these public art projects, or are the commissions going to famous artists from other places?

HB: We believe local creative voices should shape Dubai’s public spaces. One example is The Union of Artists, a permanent installation outside the Etihad Museum created by Afra Al Dhaheri, Asma Belhamar, Khalid Al Banna, Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, and Shaikha Al Mazrou. It was chosen from more than 250 submissions in an open call at Art Dubai 2023. The sculpture, which consists of seven pillars, was inspired by the traditional Emirati areesh, the simple palm-frond shelters once used for shade and protection, and stands for one of the seven emirates, underscoring their combined strength and unity. 

The Dubai Public Art initiative has also commissioned UAE-based artists for prominent installations. Jassim Alawadhi’s Wave of Imagination, a 3D sculpture made from recycled materials, reflects the interplay between land and sea and sits near Jumeirah Beach. In Al Shindagha’s historic district, Mattar bin Lahej’s Al Duroor — a five-metre-high, 400-kilogram work — references historic GCC astronomical tools to create a striking focal point.

That said, we continue to welcome international perspectives that bring fresh ideas and new approaches. The aim is not to choose between local and global, but to foster a dialogue that enriches the work and represents Dubai’s role as a meeting point of cultures.

PL: What role does technology play in shaping and expanding the visual arts scene in Dubai?

HB: Technology has become one of the most powerful enablers of artistic creation and exchange. In Dubai, it allows practitioners to experiment with new media — from digital installations and interactive light works to augmented reality pieces that transform how people see a space. This opens creative possibilities that didn’t exist a decade ago, and it attracts audiences who might not have engaged with traditional formats. 

It also plays a major role in visibility. Our festivals, public art initiatives, and gallery shows reach far beyond their physical audiences, with Google Arts & Culture extending that footprint globally. Through our ‘Dubai’s Culture & Heritage’ project on that platform, we’ve shared over 800 high-resolution images, including 120 artefacts, and 70+ curated stories—all in both English and Arabic.

From a strategic perspective, technology helps document, preserve, and promote the work being done across Dubai’s arts scene. It connects creatives with curators, collectors, and peers internationally, while reinforcing the city’s role as a centre for innovation. Many of our museum experiences now integrate interactive touch points, AR/VR storytelling, and other digital tools that bring collections to life in new and engaging ways. 

PL: How is the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority helping to ensure that galleries and institutions have access to everything they need to sustain their activities?

HB: Institutions such as galleries, museums, and art spaces are vital to the city’s arts ecosystem, and our role is to create the conditions that allow them to grow with confidence. That starts with strong policy foundations, such as the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy and the Design Sector Strategy 2033, which set measurable growth targets (from increasing the sector’s GDP contribution to increasing jobs) and help the arts attract investment, talent, and audiences.

We also create opportunities that have a direct impact. Events like Art Dubai, which welcomed over 120 galleries from more than 40 countries this year, and the Sikka Art & Design Festival, which spotlights emerging UAE-based artists, bring collectors, curators, and visitors into the city. In the Al Quoz Creative Zone, we’re upgrading infrastructure, introducing flexible licensing for creative entrepreneurs, and helping reduce operational expenses for galleries.

Targeted funding is another key part of our approach. The Dubai Cultural Grant, including the International Art Fairs Grant, helps galleries participate in major international showcases by covering a portion of their exhibition costs, particularly for those representing Emirati and UAE-based artists. 

PL: I’m a big fan of Alserkal Avenue, with its many art and design galleries, art institutions, design shops, and cultural gathering places. How important is the sustainability of Alserkal Avenue to the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority’s current and future plans?

HB: Alserkal Avenue has grown into one of Dubai’s most vital arts districts, attracting visitors from across the city and around the world. Its galleries, project spaces, and performance venues give artists and entrepreneurs a place to experiment, collaborate, and share work that adds richness and variety to Dubai’s cultural life.

For Dubai Culture, supporting Alserkal Avenue means safeguarding one of the city’s most important creative anchors. From the heart of the Al Quoz Creative Zone, it influences the network of studios and design businesses that surround it. That influence draws international interest and sparks the kind of cross-disciplinary collaborations that keep the sector moving forward. 

Our focus is on keeping that momentum. We work on programmes that welcome new audiences into the district, shape policies that help enterprises succeed, and coordinate infrastructure upgrades in Al Quoz so the Avenue can continue to grow and adapt. We are also a strategic partner for Quoz Arts Fest, one of the city’s most anticipated cultural events, which brings the creative community together through exhibitions and performances.

PL: The Al Quoz neighborhood, where Alserkal Avenue is located, has also become home to many artists’ studios and art and design businesses. How is the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority supporting these creative endeavors?

HB: Al Quoz has always had a distinct presence, but in recent years it has grown into one of the city’s most active hubs for artists’ studios and cultural spaces. Through the Al Quoz Creative Zone, we have been working to make sure this energy is matched with the infrastructure, policies, and opportunities it needs to thrive.

This includes streamlining licensing for creative enterprises in collaboration with Dubai Economy and Tourism, improving access to affordable workspaces through revised tenancy frameworks, and upgrading roads, pedestrian areas, and public facilities so the district reflects its identity as a centre for innovation. The zone has also seen the launch of dedicated community programming, including the annual Al Quoz Creative Entrepreneurship Forum and Competition, which offers funding of up to AED 80,000 (approximately $21,750) for emerging businesses, along with mentorship and training.

Public art has been embedded into the neighbourhood under our Public Art Strategy, with large-scale murals such as Rabab Tantawy’s Vibrant Voices of Al Quoz and Wonder Windows by Hend Al Murid and Dina Saadi. The Authority has also partnered with Alserkal Avenue and other local institutions to host talks, pop-up exhibitions, and open-studio events that bring residents and visitors into direct contact with the creative process.

PL: I’ve seen two exhibitions of the Dubai Collection: the first at the Etihad Museum in 2022 and the second at Art Dubai in March. How actively do the local collectors support the fairs, festivals, galleries, and institutions in the city?

HB: Local collectors are a driving force in Dubai’s arts landscape. Their influence extends far beyond purchasing pieces, as they actively fund and participate in events and institutions. The Dubai Collection reflects this commitment, bringing privately held art into an accessible archive that showcases both the region’s heritage and its contemporary voices. Notably, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has loaned works from his personal collection for public display, underscoring the value placed on art and culture at the very highest level.

Many collectors are engaged with fairs such as Art Dubai, attend and support festivals like Sikka, and work with galleries and museums to help with exhibitions. This participation helps ensure artists, curators, and organisations have the resources to produce ambitious work. Their involvement also strengthens Dubai’s position as a hub for cultural exchange, attracting international attention while creating opportunities for emerging talent at home.

PL: Having visited the U.A.E. multiple times for Art Dubai, the Alserkal Avenue galleries, the Sharjah Biennial and exhibitions at the Sharjah Art Foundation, the Barjeel Art Foundation’s collection of Arab modern art at the Sharjah Art Museum, and Abu Dhabi for the Abu Dhabi Art fair, Public Art Biennial, and Louvre, I always tell young artists and art professionals that Dubai is a cultural city of the future—the place they should be. With that in mind, please tell me how the 10-year Cultural Visa program is helping to bring and sustain new talent in the region.

HB: The Cultural Visa helps make Dubai a place where artists and professionals in the arts can truly build a life. It provides long-term security, giving people the freedom to take on ambitious work, form deep connections, and play an active role in shaping the city’s creative landscape.

It also signals to the world that Dubai welcomes talent with the time and space to grow. Many visa holders are already collaborating with local institutions, exhibiting in our festivals. By staying and developing their practice here, they bring continuity to the scene and ensure that the exchange of ideas, skills, and experiences keeps moving forward.

PL: Are artists with a Cultural Visa contributing to Dubai's art scene now?

HB: Yes, the Cultural Visa holders are part of Dubai’s art scene today. When Dubai Culture announced in March 2021 that it would issue 1,000 long-term cultural visas to creators and artists worldwide, the goal was to bring talent here and give them the stability to contribute. By August 2024, over 8,500 people had received the visa. 

Recent data highlights their growing role in the wider creative economy. In 2022, just under 119,000 people were formally working in the creative sector—an increase of almost 25% from the previous year. That’s alongside a growing network of freelancers who are contributing across local and international platforms.

PL: Why do you think Dubai is the perfect place for the next generation of creative individuals to follow their dreams?

HB: Dubai offers a combination of stability, ambition, and openness that is rare in the world. For a young creative, that means having the freedom to explore ideas, the infrastructure to bring them to life, and an audience that is ready to engage. The diversity of the city continually brings fresh perspectives into the conversation, and that exchange is a constant source of new directions and collaborations.

Over the past few years, we have shaped an environment where creative growth feels natural. Long-term residency through the Cultural Visa, direct funding via the Dubai Cultural Grant, and platforms such as Sikka, Art Dubai, and the Al Quoz Creative Zone have all contributed to this. The upcoming ISEA 2026, a leading international event for digital and electronic art, will add another dimension, positioning Dubai as a meeting ground for artists and technologists working at the edge of what art can be.

The emirate evolves in a way that keeps creativity visible and valued, whether through technology in public art, the design of sustainable districts, or active participation in global cultural networks. For the next generation, this is a place where a career in the arts can grow alongside the city itself, reaching audiences at home and abroad.