Dhai Dubai sheds light on seven Emirati artists in second edition
- Last updated: October 14, 2025 | 10:46
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
Dhai Dubai, the first-ever Emirati-led light art exhibition, has unveiled details of the seven new artists commissioned for its second edition, running at Al Wasl Plaza at Expo City Dubai (Nov. 12 – 18). Held in strategic partnership with Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the exhibition’s theme is ‘Light Influences Life’, exploring the profound impact of light on Emirati art, culture, and storytelling.
Curated by Amna Abulhoul, Executive Creative Director of Entertainment and Experiences at Expo City Dubai, and Anthony Bastic AM, AGB Creative CEO & Executive Creative Director, the 2025 exhibition features new commissions from three generations of Emirati artists. Each artist illuminates a different perspective on the significance of light in regional culture, as well as its symbolic importance in local traditions.
Reflecting on the artists selected for the upcoming edition of Dhai Dubai, Amna Abulhoul said: “The artists we have brought together for the second edition of Dhai Dubai are a radiant reflection of the UAE’s extraordinary spectrum of talent. This year, seven Emirati voices, each with their own language of light, come forward to share practices as diverse as the dreams of our nation.
Their works reveal how light is not just illumination, but a heartbeat of our culture, shaping memory, inspiring connection, and guiding imagination. At Al Wasl Plaza, the heart of Expo City Dubai, their creativity becomes a shared symphony, where personal stories and collective narratives intertwine. It is here that we celebrate light and life together, in a city where the impossible is made possible, and where every idea has the chance to shine.”
Fatma Lootah is a pivotal Emirati artist and cultural ambassador, renowned worldwide for her emotive and socially engaged abstract works. Her vast body of work spans a diverse range of expressions, from large-scale paintings to poetic performance pieces. Based in Verona, Italy, since the 1980s, she has exhibited her works across the world, from Europe and North America to Asia and North Africa, including a significant showcase at Times Square. Her practice is informed by her deep roots in Dubai, where she works from her iconic studio, House 35 in the iconic Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood district.
Mohammed Kazem is an internationally acclaimed Emirati artist using video, photography and performance, to explore environment and experience. Informed by his musical training, he renders transient phenomena like sound and light, tangible. A member of the pioneering group of Emirati artists - ‘The Five’ - he explores subjectivity against the UAE’s modernisation.
He represented the UAE at the Venice Biennale (2013) and exhibits internationally. Alia Bin Omair is an Emirati jewellery designer whose practice is shaped by native curiosity, cultural identity, and a deep respect for craftsmanship. Her work blends traditional Emirati designs and contemporary creations from found objects.
Khalid Al Banna is a prominent Emirati artist known for pioneering collage and sculpture. His architectural background informs his exploration of identity and urban transformation through layered textile collages and minimalist geometric sculptures. A key figure since the 1990s, his work includes the Union Monument, a major public artwork commissioned by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.
AlZaina Lootah is a visionary Emirati architect and designer, bridging cultural heritage with contemporary design. Her work, deeply influenced by her UAE upbringing, translates abstract concepts into meaningful environments. Ahmad AlAreef is an Emirati multidisciplinary artist exploring history and contemporary identity through photography, painting, and sculpture. His work translates Emirati oral histories and heritage into visual forms, bridging tradition with modern narratives. His works, rooted in archival research, are exhibited internationally.
Hessa Alghandi is an Emirati designer transforming cultural narratives into contemporary expressions through interior architecture and artistic design. Guided by memory and heritage, her work explores how objects and spaces tell stories. Her Hessa Archives platform and collaborations with brands like Adidas, showcase her innovative approach. Her designs, often inspired by family history, honour tradition while creating resonant, functional art. Dhai Dubai visitors will also have the opportunity to engage with an interactive light activation. There is a dynamic programme of public talks and workshops, hosted at Expo City Dubai’s upcoming cultural initiative, House of Arts, a multidisciplinary space dedicated to championing artists from the GCC and making regional art accessible to all.
Dhai Dubai light art exhibition is a celebration of light, art and culture that presents an immersive and enriching experience, celebrating the spirit and culture of Dubai and the UAE. Through its diverse array of talks and workshops, it provides a deeper understanding of the artistry and cultural significance behind each artwork, besides the context in which it was made. One of five hubs on the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, Expo City Dubai is designed as a blueprint for sustainable urban living.
It provides a springboard for businesses of all sizes to scale and grow and its residential communities boast designs with a focus on well-being and happiness and is packed with educational, cultural and entertainment offerings. It is considered “an incubator for innovation, a testbed for solutions and a platform for groundbreaking ideas.” Its mandate is to achieve net zero by 2050.
Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), under the leadership of Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, enriches Dubai’s cultural scene based on the UAE’s heritage by building bridges of dialogue between various cultures to enhance Dubai’s position as a “global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent.”