Dubai has been focused on the creative economy, and it’s upping the ante with a push to become the creative capital of the world.

On April 3rd, Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced a five-year strategic plan to make investments in creative industries and to make Dubai more attractive to creators, entrepreneurs, and investors.

According to the Dubai Media Office, that plan, the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy will:

• Double the number of creative companies in Dubai from 8,300 to 15,000.
• More than double the number of creators from 70,000 to 140,000.
• Double creative industries’ GDP contribution from  2.6% at the end of 2020 to 5% by 2025.

Today, we launch the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy with the aim of transforming the emirate into a preferred destination for creativity from across the world and a capital of the creative economy by 2025, in order to achieve our vision for a future economy based on knowledge and innovation.”

~Sheikh Mohammed

.@HHShkMohd: We launched a strategic program to make Dubai a global capital of the creative economy. We aim to increase the number of creative firms from 8,000 to 15,000 in Dubai and creative professionals from 70,000 to 150,000 within the next 5 years. pic.twitter.com/QPBG79TWD2

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 3, 2021

Dubai’s Vision and Plan

Sheikh Mohammed is credited with playing a major role in diversifying Dubai’s economy and transforming the emirate into a renowned business and tourist destination.

Now, under his leadership, one of Dubai’s “big goals” is to see the creative economy play a significant role in the emirate’s economy.

Dubai views investing in the creative economy as investing in its own future. And it doesn’t want to be just a fad destination for creative enterprise.

Dubai is looking to create an environment where creativity is “a sustainable economic resource.”

To accomplish that, the emirate has the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority supervising its creative economy strategy, which includes implementing legislative, investment and technical frameworks to support the creative community.

But what does Dubai mean by creative community?

According to the emirate’s media office, Dubai is focused on the full gamut of creativity from “publishing, writing, audio-visual and print media, such as cinema, music and video,” to artistic and cultural industries.

Dubai has its sights set on “cultural heritage museums, historical sites, archives, major cultural events, libraries, and the software and video game industry.”

Not to mention design “in all of its many variations,” from fashion to architecture.

The emirate has already established building blocks for a creative capital, including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Studio City and Dubai Design District.

As part of the five-year plan, Dubai says it plans to build out further, including the launch of an integrated zone for creatives that provides what’s necessary not only for developing a world-class creative sector in the emirate but one that empowers creatives to compete on the global stage.

So, what do you think?

Dubai is rolling out the welcome mat for creatives and businesses from all around the world to come be part of its global creative capital.

Would you consider moving to Dubai within next five years? What incentives or resources would motivate you to consider it?

Drop your comments below.

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