Shaping Culture, Bridging Futures: A Conversation with Shaima Rashid Al Suwaidi, CEO of the Arts, Design & Literature Sector at Dubai Culture

As CEO of the Arts, Design & Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, Shaima Rashid Al Suwaidi carries one of the most influential roles in shaping the city’s cultural narrative; one where heritage is not preserved behind glass, but actively reimagined for contemporary life.

From the experimental spirit of Sikka Art & Design Festival and the material-driven innovation of Dubai Design Week, to the policy frameworks transforming creativity into a sustainable economy, her work sits at the meeting point between tradition and forward momentum.

In conversation with JDEED, Al Suwaidi reflects on building creative ecosystems, listening to the needs of artists and communities, and the importance of mentorship and access, especially for emerging women creatives. She speaks to the values guiding Dubai Culture’s initiatives, from the development of Al Quoz Creative Zone to the global positioning of Dubai as a cultural capital, where storytelling, design, and diplomacy coexist.

At once strategic and grounded, her leadership is defined by a belief that culture grows strongest when it is heard first; a philosophy that continues to shape the city’s evolving creative landscape.

You lead the Arts, Design & Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, how do you balance celebrating Dubai’s rich heritage while also championing bold, futuristic creative narratives?

Shaima Rashid Al Suwaidi: Heritage is the foundation of our creative identity in Dubai. It influences how artists think and the meaning they bring to their work. At Dubai Culture, we work to keep it alive by inviting artists to reinterpret our culture in new and relevant ways. You’ll see this mix at Sikka, where traditional architecture serves as a stage for experimental art, or in public installations that reimagine Emirati craftsmanship for today’s audience.

This connection between the past and the present also runs through programmes like Dubai Design Week, where regional designers experiment with materials such as palm fronds, clay, and coral stone to explore sustainable design for the future. Even in literature, we support writers who revisit folklore or oral history to tell stories that reflect modern life. The goal is to let heritage evolve naturally, so that it is seen as the source of creative energy that continues to guide Dubai’s next chapter.

Sikka Art & Design Festival, Dubai Design Week and other festivals have become global stages for the region’s creative ecosystem. From your perspective, what role does culture policy play in turning Dubai into a “creative capital”?

Shaima Rashid Al Suwaidi: Culture policy turns creative energy into a lasting ecosystem. At Dubai Culture, our role is to create the structure that allows ideas to grow through frameworks, licensing, funding, and access. The Dubai Creative Economy Strategy and initiatives like the Al Quoz Creative Zone give artists, designers, and writers the space to turn their practice into viable enterprises.

Festivals such as Sikka Art & Design Festival, Dubai Design Week, and the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature act as global stages that showcase this ecosystem in motion. They draw international audiences, encourage cultural exchange, and attract investment that feeds back into the local economy. In 2024 alone, the cultural and creative industries attracted AED 18.86 billion in FDI capital inflows and generated over 23,000 new jobs through 971 new projects.

Culture has also become one of Dubai’s strongest forms of soft power. Today, the city is shaping international dialogue on creativity and innovation. Events such as the World Cities Culture Summit and the International Council of Museums (ICOM) General Conference 2025, as well as the upcoming International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art (ISEA2026 Dubai), bring together cultural leaders and policymakers from around the world. These gatherings position Dubai as an active voice in setting the global cultural agenda, showing how the city’s growth in creativity is deeply linked to knowledge exchange, collaboration, and cultural diplomacy.

'Culture has also become one of Dubai’s strongest forms of soft power. Today, the city is shaping international dialogue on creativity and innovation.'

You’ve publicly spoken about mentorship, community, and rising local talent. What are the most meaningful ways Dubai Culture is creating access for emerging women designers, artists, and creatives?

Shaima Rashid Al Suwaidi: Access begins with opportunity, which is why our focus is on giving creatives every chance to create and be seen. Through initiatives like Al Quoz Creative Zone and Talent Atelier, we’re building the infrastructure that helps women turn talent into sustainable careers. Platforms such as Sikka Art & Design Festival and Dubai Design Week offer visible stages for emerging designers and artists to showcase their work and collaborate with established names. Mentorship is central to these programmes, connecting early-career creatives with industry leaders who guide their growth.

This reflects the UAE’s wider commitment to inclusion and equality. Women play a defining role in shaping Dubai’s cultural landscape, whether as artists, entrepreneurs, or decision-makers. At Dubai Culture, that representation informs how we develop programmes.

'At Dubai Culture, women play an active role across all levels of the organisation. That vision is driven by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Her Excellency Hala Badri, who continue to inspire a culture of inclusion.'

Many leaders talk strategy. You’ve spoken of listening first. How has this approach—listening to creatives, communities, and audiences—shaped the projects you initiate or support at the Authority?

Shaima Rashid Al Suwaidi: Listening is at the centre of what we do. Before any project begins, we spend time understanding what artists, entrepreneurs, and communities actually need. Many of our programmes were shaped this way, including the Al Quoz Creative Zone and the Dubai Cultural Grant. When we listen, we uncover what helps people most, whether it’s space to create, access to funding, or the chance to grow internationally. Each year, the Sikka Art and Design Festival also evolves based on what participants and visitors tell us.

As an Emirati woman in a senior creative leadership role, what personal values or experiences inform how you lead and how you hope to inspire the next generation of creatives in the region?

Shaima Rashid Al Suwaidi: I take that responsibility seriously. When I was younger, seeing women in leadership roles changed what I believed was possible. Today, I try to create that same sense of opportunity by building spaces where people feel safe to explore ideas and grow at their own pace. If sharing my experience helps someone feel more confident in their path, that’s deeply rewarding.

I’ve been lucky to build my career in an environment that values women’s contributions. At Dubai Culture, women play an active role across all levels of the organisation. That vision is driven by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Her Excellency Hala Badri, who continue to inspire a culture of inclusion. Their representation reinforces the idea that it’s talent and dedication that define leadership, not gender.

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