Global events and local programmes take centre stage at Dubai Culture
- Last updated: August 4, 2025 | 10:35
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
Late last month, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) wrapped up its participation in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) sub-network meeting in Saint-Étienne, France; it was a forum designed to deepen cooperation among cities that integrate creativity into urban development. The gathering provided an opportunity to share ideas and best practices that strengthen cultural and creative industries. The engagement reflected Dubai Culture’s ongoing commitment to solidify Dubai’s leadership and position on the international map as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity and a thriving hub for talent.
During the meeting, Khulood Khoory, Director of the Projects and Events Department at Dubai Culture, made a presentation on best practices on resource and material innovation. It explored how Dubai is harnessing local biomass from palm trees to give form and shape to tomorrow’s materials.
Khulood highlighted the country’s progress in finding new uses for what otherwise might be removed as waste, transforming regional resources such as palm trees and date seeds into bioplastics, plywood alternatives, and eco-friendly veneers for interiors. On the sidelines of the UCCN Design sub-network meeting, Dubai Culture also took part in the 13th edition of the Biennale Internationale Design Saint-Étienne (till July 6) under the theme ‘Ressource(s), présager demain’ (Resources, anticipating tomorrow).
Among the showcased works on the occasion was ‘Ramel’ by Emirati designer Kholoud Sharafi, a series composed of a blend of sand from the UAE and ceramic.The pieces were inspired by the shifting dunes of the desert and explored the versatility of sand by using this abundant yet often overlooked element, to forge a link between the natural landscape and creativity. Another work on display was ‘Tibrah’ by Emirati product designer and architect Reema AlMheiri, which drew on the local community’s relationship with the sea, creating biodegradable material from fish scales as a viable alternative to synthetics. (The term ‘Tibrah’ refers to oyster bed sites, an integral factor in the UAE’s maritime heritage).
Additionally, Dubai Culture participated in the first Covilhã International Design Triennial, organised by the Municipality of Covilhã in Portugal as a flagship initiative within the UNESCO Creative Cities of Design Action Plan, in partnership with Ideias Emergentes (till June 21). The event spotlighted bioregional design, local culture, sustainability, and innovation. The exhibition included ‘Palm Repose’, a bench by Emirati architectural photographer Majid Al Bastaki, inspired by scenes of Emirati farmers resting amidst palm groves. Dubai was designated as the first Creative City of Design in the Middle East by UNESCO in 2017.
Dubai Culture also announced the launch of the second edition of the Talent Atelier programme, organised in collaboration with L’ÉCOLE Middle East, School of Jewelry Arts, supported by Van Cleef & Arpels. The initiative aims to empower a group of six designers to deepen their understanding of jewellery artistry through a combination of academic learning and practical training under the guidance of L’ÉCOLE Middle East’s lecturers and jewellery experts.The programme falls under the umbrella of the Dubai Cultural Grant, one of the Authority’s key initiatives aligned with Dubai’s Quality of Life Strategy.
The first phase of the programme (till July 11), featured a series of interactive workshops hosted at L’ÉCOLE Middle East’s campus in Dubai Design District (d3). The sessions introduced participating designers Kamla Al Olama, Sara Al Khayyal, Noora Al Shamsi, Hessa Al Abdulla, Hind Janahi and Andreea Andres, to the three core pillars of the programme, namely, art history, jewellery-making craftsmanship, and gemology. The hands-on training was designed to enhance their design capabilities, equip them with practical craftsmanship skills, and support them in translating their creative visions into preliminary design sketches and concepts.
The second phase of the programme takes place in Paris from September 1 to 5, where the selected designers have the opportunity to take part in L’ÉCOLE’s educational programme at its Paris campus, located on the Grands Boulevards at the iconic Hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau. There, they engage in a range of immersive learning experiences and visits to partner museums, to expand their knowledge of jewellery arts in one of the world’s foremost design capitals.The third and final phase will culminate in Dubai, where the participants will present their completed projects in the form of real-life designs.The final creations will reflect the level of expertise and artistic development achieved by their journey in the programme.
House 436 in Al Shindagha Historical Neighbourhood will come alive with the month-long creative programme Harakat Sikka, a stop‑motion animation and visual storytelling training programme under the Sikka Platform. The course is delivered through immersive workshops in both Arabic and English. It welcomes UAE nationals and residents aged 18 or older — students, artists, filmmakers, designers and writers — who want to bring stories to life on screen. No prior experience is needed. Running August 18 to September 26, the event is limited to 10 participants, and offers an exclusive opportunity to meet three times a week under the guidance of director-artist Boubaker Boukhari, celebrated for his experimental, folklore‑infused stop‑motion techniques, in a setting designed to be both focused and highly interactive.
Participants will explore every stage of the craft, moving from concept development and storyboarding through filming, editing, and finally strategies for distribution and festival submission. Practical workshops in character design, visual arts and audio recording, lead up to a public screening of their projects at the Sikka Art & Design Festival.