Dubai Culture Champions Creativity at 16th UNESCO Creative Cities Network Annual Conference
The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has successfully concluded its participation in the 16th UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) Annual Conference. This significant event, aimed at enhancing cooperation among cities that integrate creativity into their urban development strategies and practices, supports cultural and creative industries and their role in sustainable development. Dubai Culture’s participation underscores the Authority's ongoing efforts to establish Dubai as a global cultural center, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent.
The five-day conference, hosted by Braga, Portugal, featured a panel discussion with Dr. Saeed Mubarak bin Kharbash, CEO of the Arts and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture. Dr. bin Kharbash addressed ways to empower future generations through culture and arts education, emphasizing the close relationship between culture and education. He highlighted how creative cities enrich the knowledge of their residents and motivate them to develop diverse skills. Dr. bin Kharbash also introduced the Authority’s ‘School of Life’ project, launched in 2022, which aims to build and develop life, cultural, and creative skills for the public. This initiative transforms public libraries into inspirational creative spaces and continuous learning platforms, reflecting Dubai Culture's commitment to fostering an innovative educational ecosystem that encourages positive societal thinking.
Khulood Khoory, Director of the Projects and Events Department at Dubai Culture, shared best practices from Dubai during the Design Creative Cities sub-network meetings at the conference. Aligning with the theme ‘Bringing Youth to the Table,’ Khoory introduced the ‘Youth Design Collective’ project by the Dubai Design Lab. This project empowers youth to shape the future by developing their capabilities and providing essential skills and tools to stimulate creative thinking and devise new solutions to potential challenges. Such initiatives contribute to achieving Dubai's vision and aspirations to be one of the world’s best cities.
In 2017, Dubai was designated as the first ‘Creative City of Design’ in the Middle East within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, which was established in 2004 and includes 354 cities worldwide. Through its membership, Dubai works on policies that positively impact its reputation as a global creative city and affirm its contributions to sustainable development goals. Additionally, Dubai Culture highlights the emirate’s initiatives and achievements in design and creativity, reinforcing its position as an attractive destination for talent
