The UAE is known for its fast-paced professional landscape. Yet, amid massive conferences and digital-first networking, a quieter movement is gaining momentum: intimate, community-focused gatherings that prioritize face-to-face connection, shared passions, and meaningful dialogue.

Few understand this better than Sofya Khmelidze and Kristina Becker, co-founders of ArtDep. “There’s a growing desire for authentic, in-person experiences that bring people together through art, storytelling, and meaningful dialogue,” says Khmelidze. “In a country where many live far from home, people want to connect and stay intellectually engaged.”

This is why, for ArtDep, what began in 2022 as cosy film screenings has since evolved into a platform spanning lectures, gallery tours, and art walks across the UAE. “Over time, more art lovers and experts joined us,” Becker says. “Now we explore painting, architecture, theatre, and music. Our mission is simple yet ambitious: to make art accessible and relevant—not just for individuals but also for businesses, using it to inspire, engage, and solve real challenges.”

WELLNESS AS A COMMUNITY ANCHOR

The same appetite for belonging is reshaping wellness spaces. Christian Kiefer, CEO and founder of Spa Wellness Project Management, launched monthly sound healing and yoga workshops that welcome hotel guests and the wider community.

“In such a fast-paced environment, people crave practices that balance mind, body, and spirit,” he says. “Collective experiences like yoga and sound healing reduce stress, improve focus, and create a shared energy that strengthens community bonds.”

For many attendees, wellness is not just personal but collective. As Kiefer says, “In the UAE’s diverse communities, these practices become a universal language of well-being.”

FROM THE COURT TO THE BOARDROOM 

The demand is also reshaping sport. Aaron Illathu, managing director of Jack Taylor PR, is active in Dubai’s padel community and fitness social club. “Health was the excuse, but community was the hook,” he says, reflecting on what drove his participation. “When you play with your friends, it’s a bubble. A club bursts that bubble and throws you into this melting pot of people you’d probably never cross paths with otherwise. You end up on court with CEOs, creatives, expats, locals, all sweating it together.”

Vlada Lomova, CEO and co-founder of PRHub.ae, recalls how joining a female entrepreneurship circle transformed her early days in Dubai. “Communities don’t just expand your network; they create meaningful relationships. When women come together, there’s an exchange of trust and energy that makes ideas move faster.”

These groups are professional and personal lifelines for her. “Being part of a women-led community feels like having your own squad. You celebrate wins and build resilience together. Many of the best collaborations I’ve seen in Dubai started as casual coffee chats.”

BUILDING BELONGING

What unites these different communities is their ability to carve out real belonging in a transient city.  Illathu describes these clubs as “social scaffolding”, noting that in a city as transient as Dubai, “Belonging doesn’t just happen—you manufacture it.”

Khmelidze adds that art, in particular, bridges cultural divides: “Art has a unique power to connect people across cultures, nationalities, and generations. After our talks, people from different backgrounds stay behind to share stories and find common ground. Art becomes a shared language that sparks curiosity and connection.”

Meanwhile, wellness practices allow participants to come together with shared intention, naturally cultivating belonging: “People leave not only feeling lighter and more centred themselves, but also with a sense that they are part of something larger,” says Kiefer.

Additionally, these communities fill a growing need for life outside the digital space. “ Online connection may be easy, but it’s also disposable,” says Illathu. “You can ghost a WhatsApp group. But you can’t fake showing up on the court. People crave that messy, human imperfection—eye contact and laughter when someone shanks a shot.”

As Lomova notes, it’s about slowing down, leaving your phone aside, and having proper conversations. “Every small meet-up quietly shapes the city’s vibe. That’s the Dubai you don’t see online.”

UNDERSTANDING ACCESS AND INCLUSION

Still, community experiences can feel like luxuries. “If you can afford it, you’re plugged into this high-energy social ecosystem; if not, you’re outside,” says Illathu. “The big unlock will be when more accessible formats emerge.”

Some organizations are already addressing this gap. Illathu points to the UnCommon Club, which runs a free Thursday community event. Kiefer’s monthly wellness workshops are also free and designed to build inclusion around mindful living. “Well-being should be a shared lifestyle, not a luxury,” he says.

Becker adds that ArtDep continues experimenting with formats—partnering with brands, hosting gallery walks with art historians, and testing new venues. “The UAE’s multicultural environment and openness to fresh ideas offer tremendous opportunities,” she says. “People here are genuinely curious and eager to explore.”

THE FUTURE OF COMMUNITY IN THE UAE

Momentum for community-focused initiatives is accelerating. Illathu sees these clubs as the UAE’s new “third places”.“Not brunches, not offices, but somewhere in between. In a city where social life often feels transactional, they’re rewiring how people form friendships.”

Kiefer envisions inclusive spaces where wellness is woven into daily life, a future where wellness moves from being a luxury to a necessity: “We aim to be a catalyst to nurture authentic connections, and ultimately help shape a culture where wellness is woven into the fabric of everyday life.”

Khmelidze shares a similar optimism for the arts by creating platforms where filmmakers, historians, and cultural experts—especially those highlighting Arab culture—can share insights. “Through immersive talks, interactive workshops, and collaborative projects, we want to foster learning, dialogue, and a deeper sense of community.”

As these initiatives grow, they quietly rewrite what belonging looks like in the UAE. In an age of instant digital connections, people crave the unfiltered reality of showing up. Organizations that support these communities tap into the city’s social pulse and help transform a transient place into one where roots can take hold. Belonging becomes part of the social fabric.