Dubai Culture Launches New Book to Boost the Islamic Culture and Art Economy

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated entity for culture, arts and heritage, has launched its ‘Global Perspectives on the Islamic Creative Economy’ book, featuring interviews that present the opinions of experts from local and international experts about how to consolidate Dubai’s position as an international centre for the Islamic Culture and Art Economy (ICAE), and chart a future course of expansion for the ICAE. 

The book was launched to the public during a press conference that took place at the Etihad Museum and was attended by Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director General of Dubai Culture; Abdulla Al Awar, Chief Executive Officer at the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC); Dhaen Shaheen, Advisor to the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Dubai Culture; and Abudlla Al Mutairi, Advisor to the Heritage Sites at Dubai Culture. 

Saeed Al Nabouda commented: “Our newly launched book is a continuation of our efforts and reflects our mandate toestablish a favourable framework for the creative economy in alignment with the initiative established by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the global capital of the Islamic economy”.

Al Nabouda added: “We would like to thank His Excellency Abdulla Al Awar for DIEDC’s support in exploring the role of Islamic culture and arts in Dubai’s economy. The book supports our leadership’s economic diversification objectives and the vision set out in the Dubai Plan 2021 for a city of happy, creative and empowered people. Since its creation in 2008, Dubai Culture has been dedicated to strengthening Islamic culture and arts both locally and abroad by promoting our heritage sites, contributing to the Islamic Coins exhibition at the Islamic Museum of Australia, and touring collections of Islamic calligraphy, poetry and Emirati heritage.”

Abdulla Al Awar, Chief Executive Officer at the DIEDC, commented: “‘Global Perspectives on the Islamic Creative Economy’ is a book that significantly reinforces the DIEDC’s refreshed strategy, which puts Islamic lifestyle in pride of place as one of its three key pillars. This is an important value addition as we make the transition toward a knowledge-based economy.” 

Al Awar added: “The launch of the ‘Dubai: Capital of Islamic Economy’ initiative reiterates that the growth of the Islamic economy is based on the revitalisation of our own culture, as the younger generation makes up the majority of Muslims today. They constitute a powerhouse of efficiency and talent that is expressed through arts and innovation, and any economic system can benefit from leveraging their energy to increase productivity and thereby revenue.”

Al Awar concluded: “The impact that the cultural sector of the Islamic economy has depends not only on Muslims but also on investors. Although culture is considered an emerging economy and able to absorb further investment, the fact remains that the Islamic economy touches the lives of 1.6 billion Muslims across the globe, which proves there is no limit to how  much we can invest in the cultural and artistic sectors.”

The book offers a comprehensive insight into Dubai’s ICAE, focusing on four critical factors that can further establish the Emirate as a hub for the Islamic economy, including ‘Attracting and Nurturing Talent’, ‘Creating World-Class Cultural Infrastructure’, ‘Raising Public Awareness about Islamic Culture and Art’ and ‘Mobilising Funding.’ Each chapter includes opinions from some of the leading figures in the sector, as well as comments from Dubai residents. 

Before its Dubai debut, the book was launched in London on 19th September and in Australia on the 27th of the same month. The Australia launch follows the Islamic Coins exhibition hosted collaboratively by Dubai Culture and the Islamic Museum of Australia in 2016, which is part of the Authority’s ongoing efforts to promote Islamic culture abroad. 

Dubai Culture aims to enhance Dubai’s cultural scene and draw attention to the Emirate’s rich heritage with a variety of initiatives that take place throughout the year. The Authority’s mandate is to build bridges of constructive dialogue between different civilisations and cultures through enriching initiatives that benefit the Emirate’s citizens, residents and visitors.