His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, recently announced the launch of the Erth Dubai Award, one of the world’s largest awards dedicated to recognizing excellence in cultural and heritage preservation. This award marks a major step in Dubai’s ongoing efforts to celebrate its rich history and preserve its vibrant cultural identity for future generations.
What Is the Erth Dubai Award?
The Erth Dubai Award is part of the wider Erth Dubai initiative, a community driven project focused on documenting the social, cultural, and heritage transformations of Dubai over the years. The award encourages individuals, groups, government entities, and private organizations to participate in celebrating and preserving Dubai’s unique heritage through storytelling and creative documentation.
With a prize fund exceeding AED 5 million, the Erth Dubai Award is one of the largest and most ambitious efforts globally to honor those who contribute to preserving cultural heritage. It is designed to promote active community involvement in sharing and protecting Dubai’s past, while inspiring pride and connection to Emirati culture.
The Vision Behind the Award
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum highlighted how Dubai’s history and cultural heritage are essential in shaping its current success and future ambitions. He explained that societies that cherish and preserve their heritage are more confident and stable as they move forward.
This vision aligns with the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, whose approach to development combines authenticity, innovation, and visionary leadership. Dubai’s identity is built on blending tradition with modern progress, and the Erth Dubai Award reflects this philosophy perfectly.
Why Is Preserving Heritage So Important?
Preserving cultural heritage is about more than saving old buildings or artifacts. It is about protecting the stories, values, and traditions that form the foundation of a community’s identity. For Dubai, a city that has transformed rapidly over the past few decades, preserving these stories ensures that growth does not erase the past but instead builds upon it.
By encouraging people to document their experiences and family histories, the award helps create a living record of Dubai’s culture and social life. This not only benefits future generations but also strengthens the bonds within the current community, reminding everyone of their shared roots and values.
Award Categories and What They Mean
The Erth Dubai Award has two main categories: the community category and the government and private sector category. Together, they include seven subcategories designed to cover different aspects of cultural preservation.
Community Category
This category focuses on individual and group contributions within Dubai’s local community. It includes awards for:
- Best creatively documented story recognizing unique and artistic storytelling
- Best story documenting family legacy honoring those who preserve their family’s history
- Best story documented on social media celebrating modern ways of sharing heritage
- Best documenter of Dubai’s oral heritage highlighting oral histories passed down through generations
- Best Dubai resident story focusing on the experiences of Dubai residents
Government and Private Sector Category
This category honors government entities and private organizations that have made outstanding contributions to cultural and heritage preservation. Special honors recognize efforts supporting the Erth Dubai initiative and helping spread awareness.
Attractive Prizes to Encourage Participation
The Erth Dubai Award offers significant financial rewards to inspire wide participation. A grand prize of AED 1 million will be given to the best overall entry. Each winner in the seven subcategories will receive AED 500,000.
These generous prizes underline the importance Dubai places on cultural heritage and the value it assigns to those who dedicate time and effort to preserving it.
How Can You Participate?
The Erth Dubai Award welcomes everyone – citizens, residents, individuals, and organizations – to participate. The goal is to collect authentic and creative stories that capture the true spirit of Dubai’s heritage.
Participants can submit their entries online through the official Erth Dubai website or via the Erth Dubai mobile app, which is available on both Apple Store and Google Play. The app is designed to make it easy for users to share their stories and life experiences.
The registration period for submissions is open until January 15, 2026.
A Digital Archive for the Future
One of the most valuable aspects of the Erth Dubai Award is that all submissions will be preserved in a digital archive. This archive will be interactive and accessible to researchers, cultural institutions, and the general public.
By creating this digital record, Dubai ensures that the contributions made today will continue to inspire and educate for many years to come. This archive will safeguard Dubai’s cultural heritage, making it easy to explore and learn about the city’s history and identity.
The Broader Erth Dubai Initiative
The Erth Dubai Award is part of the wider Erth Dubai initiative launched earlier in 2025. This initiative was created to document and trace Dubai’s social, cultural, and heritage changes over time.
Since its launch, the initiative has seen enthusiastic community participation, with thousands of stories and memories submitted from people across the emirate. This growing collection reflects Dubai’s diversity and the richness of life in the city.
The Award builds on this momentum by formally recognizing outstanding contributions and encouraging even broader involvement.
Dubai’s Unique Approach to Heritage and Progress
Dubai stands out globally because of how it balances rapid modernization with a strong respect for its cultural roots. The Erth Dubai Award perfectly embodies this balance by celebrating heritage while encouraging innovation in how stories are shared and preserved.
This approach is vital for sustainable development, as it allows Dubai to move forward confidently without losing its unique identity. It also sets an example for other cities worldwide on how to preserve culture amid growth and change.
Looking Forward: The Award Ceremony
The winners of the Erth Dubai Award will be honored at a special ceremony scheduled for early 2026. This event will celebrate the achievements of those who have contributed to preserving Dubai’s heritage and highlight the importance of cultural preservation in the city’s ongoing story.
Conclusion
The launch of the Erth Dubai Award marks a major milestone in Dubai’s journey to protect and celebrate its cultural heritage. With its substantial prize fund, open participation, and commitment to preserving stories in a digital archive, the award offers a unique opportunity for everyone to contribute to Dubai’s living legacy.
By embracing the values of authenticity, creativity, and community participation, the Erth Dubai Award will help ensure that Dubai’s past remains a vibrant part of its future. If you have a story to tell or a family legacy to share, now is the time to join this exciting initiative and become part of Dubai’s rich cultural tapestry.
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