Dubai Culture turbocharges creativity in Al Quoz with spectacular murals

Gulf Today

3 days ago

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has unveiled two murals in Al Quoz Creative Zone as part of the Dubai Public Art Strategy. The initiative brings artistic experiences to the community, striving to shape the city into an open-air art gallery.
The effort is in line with the emirate's ambition to strengthen its status as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent. The series showcases the work of three female artists, whose murals reflect the unique spirit of Al Quoz. Drawing on the area's character and vitality, the works turn public spaces into memorable creative sites.
Together, they further reinforce Al Quoz's role as a welcoming home for culture professionals and entrepreneurs though they may hail from diverse backgrounds, offering an environment where ideas can find shelter, take root and flourish.
In her mural 'Vibrant Voices of Al Quoz', Egyptian visual artist and muralist Rabab Tantawy celebrates the district's vibrancy and particular identity. Painted on the façade of Aramtec, a food service company, her piece features lively scenes of spice stalls, lanterns, and traditional Arabic coffee pots, surrounded by various architectural elements such as arches and domes, reflecting the dynamic face of Al Quoz. Meanwhile, Emirati artist Hend Al Murid has teamed up with Syrian muralist Dina Saadi on 'Wonder Windows', a large-scale artwork on the façade of the interactive children's museum WooHoo, inviting visitors on a journey of discovery. Their work weaves together symbols like the Hudhud bird, the dallah (local coffee pot) traditional Emirati ornamental motifs and childhood memories, wrapped in a spirit of curiosity.
Rabab Tantawy's mural brightens the street.
Commenting on the initiative, Shaima Rashid Al Suwaidi, CEO of the Arts, Design & Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, highlighted the role of the Dubai Public Art Strategy in enriching the cultural ecosystem and transforming the city into an open-air art gallery.
She said: 'The murals are a welcome addition to the Al Quoz Creative Zone, an area known for sparking fresh ideas and giving young talent the space to realise their ambitions. Dubai Culture remains committed to fostering creativity and encouraging artists to capture the spirit of the UAE in their own unique ways. This is part of our broader goal to create a sustainable environment that reinforces Dubai's position as a leading global destination to live, thrive, and enjoy new experiences.'
Mozah Lootah, Dubai Public Art Project Manager at Dubai Culture, spoke about the originality and diversity the murals bring to Al Quoz, both in concept and execution. She said: 'The Dubai Public Art Strategy provides a framework to support and empower local creatives, enabling them to express their perspectives by turning our neighbourhoods, squares, and public spaces into cultural destinations. These artworks foster interactive dialogue between artists and audiences, while also contributing to the growth of tourism in Dubai.' Born in 1971 in Cairo, Rabab Tantawy involved herself in several exhibitions, while also actively pursuing street art. Her biggest focus is on union, community, and heritage. Rabab is an intuitive artist. She does not work with preliminary sketches; rather, she uses the canvas as a support for direct download. Line and colour are the pillars of her work. Rabab switches from classical earthy colours to strong neon colours with ease.
Emirati artist Hend Almurid captivates the viewer with her attention to detail and talent for creating fascinating patterns. The motto behind her work is 'My art, my universe'. 'My art is an extension of me and I create my own universe within it. And anyone who views and appreciates my work can be a part of it,' she says. Dina Saadi is a street artist, known for her colourful and vibrant murals featuring portraits, animals, and abstract work inspired by nature and the underwater world. Her work explores the deeper theme of human identity, feelings and the collective awareness of our interconnectedness with nature and all life forms. Saadi has painted murals all over the world, including the Middle East, Europe, United States, Asia, and Africa.
Through the Dubai Public Art Strategy, Dubai Culture aims to enhance visual culture, stimulate innovation among creators and artists, and encourage them to present artistic experiences that will transform the emirate into an open, accessible and global art gallery for everyone. To this end, it has established collaborations with Art Dubai, Tashkeel, Alserkal, Art Jameel, as well as other entities in the arts sector. The goal is to transform Dubai's streets, neighbourhoods and public areas into touristic and cultural destinations, showcasing artwork, sculptures, paintings, murals and art installations that reflect the creative identity of many geographies.
Other examples of public art installations include Resonance, an artistic installation in Al Shindagha by Maryam Namvar and Neda Salmanpour, curated by Munira Al Sayegh, exploring the historic and social significance of the area; Union of Artists, a collaborative sculpture by five Emirati artists unveiled at Al Hudaiba Public Park in 2024 and Deliberate Pauses artworks in Hatta by Shaikha Almazrou, encouraging reflection and appreciation of the natural landscape. Al Quoz Creative Zone is an integrated creative ecosystem designed to meet the requirements of creative talents and entrepreneurs who are investing in various areas of the UAE's creative economy. It aims to gradually transform into a creative space in line with the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy, serving as an integrated hub for all services, licences and permits related to creative businesses.