Dubai launches new Al Quoz District to shape the emirate’s creative sector

The emirate aims to increase the contribution of the creative and arts sector to gross domestic product from 2.6 per cent to 5 per cent by 2025

A portrait of Mame Kewe Aminata Lo by Kehinde Wiley at Galerie Templon, Art Dubai 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A piece by Abdoulaye Konate at Gallery 1957, Art Dubai 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Afifa Aleiby's 'Sunset' sold at Art Dubai on its first day. On view at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery booth. Chris Whiteoak / The National

James Clar's 'Taking a ride with my best friend' at the booth of Silverlens, a gallery from Manila, at Art Dubai 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A visitor at the Athr Gallery booth at Art Dubai 2021, which runs until Saturday, April 3. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dastan's Basement from Tehran features playful works by Iman Raad, Mamali Shafahi, Taba & Shooki, Farrokh Mahdavi and Yousha Bashir at Art Dubai 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A woman visits oil on canvas paintings by Ayesha Sultana of the Experimenter gallery in 14th edition of Art Dubai. AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili

A visitor with the work of Anish Kapoor called 'Random Triangle Mirror' at Art Dubai 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Fleeting Stains by Nahla Tabbaa, part of Campus Art Dubai's presentation at Art Dubai 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Prints by Marwan at Meem gallery booth at Art Dubai 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dubai on Tuesday launched Al Quoz Creative District in a major push to shape the emirate's creative sector.

The announcement was made by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, on Twitter.

"Dubai today launched the Al Quoz Creative District – a new destination to achieve our goal [to become] a smart, artistic and cultural city," Sheikh Mohammed said.

The district will help the emirate in its aim to become a global capital for the creative economy by 2025, he said.

The new district was launched by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and will be supervised by Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed, head of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture).

“Al Quoz Creative District is a new step through which we affirm Dubai's pioneering role ... and that it is serious about being the new global creative capital ... and the number one destination for creators from all over the world,” Sheikh Hamdan wrote on Twitter.

On April 3, a programme was launched in Dubai to increase the contribution of the creative and arts sector to gross domestic product from 2.6 per cent to 5 per cent by 2025.

Sheikh Mohammed said design, content, culture and the arts would be a "major driver for the future of our country".

In his Twitter post on April 3, he also noted the programme would generate jobs and double the number of companies in the industry.

Sheikh Mohammed also said about 8,300 companies traded in the emirate's creative sector today.