Dubai Culture & Expo City Dubai Strategic Partnership

In a bold and forward-looking move, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Expo City Dubai have announced a transformative strategic partnership to enrich Dubai’s cultural and creative landscape. With the emirate already leading in global innovation and tourism, this collaboration aims to deepen the role of arts, heritage and creativity in shaping not only the visitor experience but also local community identity and international appeal.

Why this partnership matters

This alliance isn’t merely symbolic. Dubai Culture and Expo City Dubai are combining strengths to support major cultural moments, boost creative industries, and deliver shared value across the city. The partnership will:

Support Dubai Culture’s vision for the future of the emirate’s cultural and creative sector, empowering artists, creatives and cultural organisations.
Enable Expo City Dubai to amplify its cultural engagement and strengthen its role beyond a venue into a living creative ecosystem.
Drive innovation, sustainability and human-centred creativity — demonstrating how culture can drive progress, human connections and a thriving society.

The big projects on the horizon

Under the agreement, several key initiatives are already in motion:

Hosting a major international conference

The partnership will support the hosting of the ICOM Dubai 2025 General Conference — the first time the global museum community gathers in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region. The opening event, to be held under the iconic dome at Al Wasl Plaza within Expo City Dubai, will bring together over 4,000 international delegates.

‘Pocket Forest’ urban green-culture initiative

An inventive ‘Pocket Forest’ project is planned within Expo City Dubai’s Terra district, inspired by the Miyawaki method of dense urban forestry: planting native trees such as sidr, samr, ghaf and arak to create a lush micro-forest that blends environmental stewardship with cultural symbolism.

Cultural festivals, platforms and creative hubs

The cooperation will also fuel the growth of creative festivals (for example the Dhai Dubai Arts Festival), the opening of new creative spaces such as the House of Art, and interactive public art installations that invite local and international audiences to engage with culture in fresh ways.

What this means for Dubai’s creative economy

This partnership underscores how Dubai is evolving: from being a destination for global business and tourism, to being a thriving hub for culture, art and creativity. Some of the likely impacts include:

Empowering local talent: Artists, curators, designers and creatives will gain stronger platforms, greater visibility and new audiences.
Boosting cultural tourism: International festivals, conferences and art platforms will draw visitors seeking more than just leisure; they seek meaning, connection and cultural richness.
Strengthening global reputation: Dubai’s ability to host global cultural events, showcase local heritage and integrate creativity with environment bolsters its standing on the world stage.
Sustainability and legacy: Initiatives like the Pocket Forest demonstrate how culture and environment can interlink, creating lasting legacies and physical assets beyond events.

Human stories behind the strategy

Behind this strategic move are real people and real ambitions. For example:

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture, emphasised that the partnership “reflects our shared commitment to celebrating cultural diversity and empowering Dubai’s creative sector… we believe in the power of culture to drive progress, innovation and sustainable development.”
Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, CEO of Expo City Dubai Authority, noted that the collaboration supports Expo City’s journey to advance culture and arts, while creating innovation-rich environments that strengthen human connections and expand creative opportunities.
The ‘Pocket Forest’ project featured a moment when children helped plant the first native saplings, symbolising how culture, nature and future generations are being woven together.

Why now is the right time

Several factors make this partnership particularly timely:

Dubai is increasingly positioning itself not just as a commercial and tourist hub, but as a cultural capital for the region and the world.
The creative economy globally is gaining recognition for its economic and social value — culture is no longer a side note, but a core driver of innovation and quality of life.
Urban sustainability and green design are gaining urgency; projects like the Pocket Forest show how culture and nature can combine for meaningful impact.
The world is looking for destinations that deliver immersive cultural experiences, authenticity and stories — and Dubai is responding by elevating its offerings beyond the ordinary.

What residents and visitors can expect

Thanks to this collaboration, residents of Dubai and visiting guests will enjoy:

More frequent and higher-profile cultural events, festivals and art installations.
Interactive public art, new creative spaces and enriched experiences in places like Expo City Dubai.
Opportunities for local creatives to engage, participate and showcase their work on larger platforms.
Environments that blend nature, culture and community — such as the new forested pockets, and accessible urban green spaces.
Enhanced sense of unity, diversity and shared cultural identity as Dubai engages international artists, audiences and creative minds.

The broader significance

The significance of this partnership reaches beyond the local. It signals how cities around the world can use culture as a strategic lever for growth, innovation and global relevance. For Dubai, it reaffirms that future success isn’t just about buildings or events — it’s about people, stories, creativity and purpose. Culture becomes the engine of transformation, society becomes the canvas, and global connectivity becomes the outcome.

Conclusion

The strategic partnership between Dubai Culture and Expo City Dubai is more than a formal alliance — it is a vision in action. It reflects an ambition for Dubai to not only host culture, but to be culture: to nurture it, celebrate it, share it and live it. As the projects roll out and the initiatives launch, we will see how this collaboration shapes the creative future of the emirate. For those who live in Dubai, visit Dubai, or simply follow its story, this is a moment to watch—and to be inspired by.

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