Destinations United Arab Emirates Arts & Culture
 

Arts & Culture

Explore Dubai's culture through traditional spaces and modern art districts. Dubai is home to award-winning galleries, culture-fuelled hubs and contemporary street art, which means colourful surprises are everywhere. There is a world of creativity to discover.

With the discovery of oil, the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum began the development of Dubai. He began transforming the city from a small cluster of settlements near Dubai Creek to a modern port, city and commercial hub. Rashid Port, Jebel Ali Port, Dubai Drydocks, the widening of the Dubai Creek, and the Dubai World Trade Centre were a few major projects completed at the time.

Leadership and vision allowed the UAE to push ahead with ambitious building and social projects. In the space of just half a century, Dubai exploded in growth, building modern wonders such as the Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa, which is now very closely associated with the metropolis.

Traditional arts and handicrafts

Local arts and handicrafts are still commonly practiced in Dubai and around the UAE. Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood is very famous for its modern, artistic creations that often on show at various galleries within Alserkal Avenue.

Calligraphy

The Arabic alphabet is the second most widely used across the globe. This creative way of writing is known as khatt, which derives from the word for ‘line’, ‘design’ or ‘construction’.

Henna

Originally worn by brides across the region to bring good luck to their marriage, henna bod art remains a popular beauty treatment in Dubai to this day.

Perfumery

Dubai is popularly known for bold fragnances and many modern perfume brands combine traditional base aromas with a multitude of modern notes. Visit Al Shindagha Museum to find out all about perfumery.

Pottery

People have been working with clay since the third millennium BCE. Aside from decorative vases and incense containers, earthen pots remain highly effective for cooling drinking water.

Weaving

Dubai has a traditional weaving technique known as Al Sadu is used from goat or sheep’s wool to craft a range of essential items. Visit Gold Souk and Textile Souk to fill your shopping bags with best handicrafts from Dubai.

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