Culture in Dubai is no longer treated as a sector confined to organising exhibitions and festivals or preserving heritage. It has become part of the equation of economic and social development, a key element in building the emirate's global standing, and an essential feature of daily life.
The adoption of the Dubai Cultural Strategy 2033 by Dubai's Executive Council, at its meeting the day before yesterday under the chairmanship of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of Dubai's Executive Council, signals a qualitative shift in the visions and approaches to investing in and managing the cultural sector. This comes in light of the visions and directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, and the efforts and initiatives of Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairwoman of Dubai's Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture). Culture is now viewed as a creative economic force and has become a fundamental pillar in reinforcing social development, creating jobs, attracting investment, enriching soft power assets, and improving quality of life.
On the occasion of the adoption of this unique strategic creative vision for Dubai, a number of intellectuals and cultural figures affirmed that this qualitative direction is a vital and distinctive lever for enhancing the role of culture and knowledge in Dubai's renaissance, consolidating its effective impact across all spheres of life, and cementing Dubai's position as a global centre of creativity and an oasis for intellectuals and thinkers worldwide.
His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Chairman of the Board of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, said: