In line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, to introduce AED1 billion in support measures for the economic sector, Dubai Culture has launched the ‘Creative Sector Resilience Portfolio’.

Announced by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the portfolio is designed to strengthen the emirate’s creative ecosystem, enhance its adaptability, and reinforce its role as a key contributor to Dubai’s long-term economic growth. It supports creative professionals while advancing the sector’s capacity to respond to evolving market conditions.

Built around five interconnected pillars—Cultural Infrastructure, Creative Production, Participation and Audiences, Talent Development, and Cultural Impact—the portfolio will be delivered in phases. Each phase will introduce targeted initiatives providing creatives and cultural institutions with access to spaces, funding, professional development, and market opportunities.

Sheikha Latifa said the initiative reflects Dubai’s proactive approach to navigating change while positioning creativity as a sustainable economic driver. She emphasized the emirate’s continued focus on investing in people, highlighting the role of integrated partnerships between government, the private sector, and the wider community in expanding access to markets and enabling business growth across creative industries.

She also noted that the portfolio will help enrich Dubai’s cultural landscape by supporting cultural and creative institutions, SMEs, and individual artists, equipping them to keep pace with future developments and respond to shifting conditions.

The portfolio is a key outcome of the ‘Creative Sector Resilience’ workshop, organized by Dubai Culture in collaboration with the Dubai Future Foundation, which brought together leaders from cultural, heritage, artistic, and creative institutions. The session focused on strengthening ecosystem readiness and reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global cultural hub and incubator for creative talent.

Under the Cultural Infrastructure pillar, free multi-purpose venues will be made available to creatives in collaboration with Dubai Municipality, Dubai CommerCity, House of Arts at Expo City Dubai, Dubai Holding Asset Management, Dubai International Financial Center, and Dubai South. Dubai Culture will also offer a dedicated space within its own assets, alongside affordable workspaces through Letswork to support networking and visibility.

The Creative Production pillar introduces a range of funding and commissioning initiatives, including the Dubai Cultural Grant, a micro-grants program in partnership with Art Jameel, a micro-commissioning program with Luxuriant Design, founded by Emirati entrepreneur Saeed Saif Al Ketbi, and an exhibition grant in collaboration with Art Dubai.

The Talent Development pillar will expand access to training and professional development through continued e-learning initiatives in partnership with LinkedIn, as well as workshops, cultural activation programs, and training courses.

Through the Participation and Audiences pillar, the portfolio will provide promotional and media support across digital platforms to spotlight local talent, while enabling retail and exhibition opportunities through Majid Al Futtaim’s ‘Ma’an’ program, which offers complimentary spaces across its assets.

The Cultural Impact pillar will transform Dubai into an open-air gallery, with creative works displayed on outdoor billboards across the emirate in collaboration with PHI Advertising, bringing art into public spaces and reinforcing the city’s cultural identity.

Through this comprehensive approach, the ‘Creative Sector Resilience Portfolio’ aims to strengthen cross-sector collaboration, expand opportunities for creatives, and ensure the continued growth, resilience, and sustainability of Dubai’s cultural and creative industries.