Dubai is going to be one of the world’s leading cultural destinations in the next five years.
That is the bold vision of Saeed Al Nabouda, director general of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, who is spearheading efforts to further enrich the emirate.
Speaking at an event to mark the organisation's milestone 10th anniversary, he said that while Dubai is already a renowned shopping and business hub, enhancing its cultural offerings is the next leap forward in its evolution.
Mr Al Nabouda said that Dubai’s transformation into a global cultural hotspot would be the result of a five-year strategy.
“The main objective for the team at Dubai Culture is to take the emirate to the very next level,” he said.
“Traditionally Dubai’s cultural offerings have been overshadowed by its financial, tourism and shopping facilities.”
He said that while there had been culture and art in Dubai for decades, the infrastructure had not always been in place to give artists the best possible platform to make a living from it.
“There have been artists for 30 years who have lived in Dubai,” he said.
“However in many cases they have had to work day jobs. We want to create an environment in which they can work as artists full-time.
“There needs to be a culture where artists can flourish and celebrate their art without having to dilute it by working another full-time job as well.”
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He made reference to the emirate’s recent investments in culture including the Dubai Opera House, which was built in 2016 and has proved a massive attraction for residents and tourists alike.
“That is only the start though, we have to create an atmosphere where we can reflect the cultural needs of the people.
“It would be easy to build another museum tomorrow. But we have to make sure that the people want another museum and that what we are providing reflects the needs of the society here.
“We have to build an appetite for culture and art in Dubai and that is going to take time.”
It was with that in mind that the organisation unveiled a five-year strategy to promote heritage, arts, culture and literature across the emirate.
The wide-ranging initiative will culminate with the installation of new museums and the integration of urban development projects into Dubai’s cultural landscape.
“Culture is different than other sectors in Dubai,” said Mr Al Nabouda.
“It is not about creating the biggest or the tallest project, it is about changing the mindset of the entire society.
“There is no point building more projects like the opera house if there is no demand for it.”
He said the project would benefit the entire UAE, as opposed to just Dubai.
“We want it to compliment what’s on offer in the likes of Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi,” he said.
“We need to be able to shed a light on the cultural offerings that we have. Dubai has the best shopping and entertainment experiences and soon we will also have the best in art.
“We are striving to make culture a way of life and priority here.”
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
ACC%20T20%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Championship
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If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
