Dubai Culture Launches Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Arts Awards

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated entity for culture, arts, heritage, and literature, has launched a global recognition award for art, bearing the name of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

As part of its efforts to support the Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives and achieve its vision, the award aims to encourage artists from around the world to compete across four main categories, namely, Arts, Creative Industries, Influencer of the Year, and Top Art Patron. The award will also replace the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons of Arts Awards in one of its categories.

Number ‘1’ was chosen as the award logo, inspired by the words of HH Shiekh Mohammed: “We want to be number 1 globally in all fields.” The logo also embodies the spirit of art with its painting-like design and colour choices, featuring a spectrum of harmonious tones that flow smoothly and strongly.

HE Abdulrahman Bin Mohamed Al Owais Chairman of the Board of Directors Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) said: “This award is designed as a distinctive global award that promotes Dubai’s innovation-driven approach and establishes bridges of communication to foster cooperation with all nations. The award complements many global initiatives launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed to promote Dubai as an incubator for art and culture.”

Al Owais continued: “This award will help us in cementing Dubai's position as a creative and sustainable city for culture, arts, heritage, and literature, and will contribute to achieving one of the objectives of the Dubai 2021 Plan which is to ‘make Dubai a city of creative and empowered individuals, filled with pride and happiness’. In line with our sustainable regional and international programs and policies, the award supports the UAE Soft Power Strategy and covers the UAE's economic, cultural, artistic, humanitarian, tourism, and societal landscapes. In addition, it will highlight the UAE as a civilised nation, underlining its distinctive heritage, identity, and cultural heritage.”

“This award will have a strong outreach because it bears the name of HH Sheikh Mohammed, and is sure to attract global attention. We expect that it will draw millions of followers across traditional and new media, thus enhancing the image of Dubai and the UAE. Consequently, it will serve as a platform for promoting noble values that help spread peace and compassion across the world,” he added.

Dubai Culture aims to enhance Dubai’s cultural scene and draw attention to the UAE’s rich heritage. The Authority’s mandate is to build bridges of constructive dialogue between different civilizations and cultures to enhance Dubai's position as a creative and sustainable global city for culture, heritage, arts, and literature, with the aim to empower these sectors by developing creative and innovative projects and initiatives locally, regionally, and globally.