Dhai Dubai Returns, Illuminating Emirati Art
A transformative celebration of creativity and culture is lighting up Dubai once again as the highly anticipated second edition of Dhai Dubai takes center stage. Set in the heart of Expo City’s iconic Al Wasl Plaza, the festival showcases a dazzling array of light-based artworks — all crafted by an exclusively Emirati line-up — and forms the cultural highlight of a vibrant week across the UAE.
- Leading the Week: Dhai Dubai Festival of Lights
Dhai Dubai, the UAE’s premiere all-Emirati light art exhibition, has returned under the theme: “Light Influences Life.” Featuring seven commissioned works, the festival brings to the fore a dynamic mix of multisensory storytelling deeply rooted in Emirati heritage and contemporary expression.
Curated by Expo City’s Executive Creative Director of Entertainment and Experiences, Amna Abulhoul, along with Anthony Bastic AM of AGB Creative, the 2024 edition elevates artistic innovation from regional creators in an effort to boost the UAE’s cultural visibility. Participating artists — Fatma Lootah, Mohammed Kazem, Khalid Al Banna, Alia Bin Omair, AlZaina Lootah, Ahmed AlAreef and Hessa Alghandi — range across three generations, offering immersive interpretations of light’s emotional, spiritual, and cultural dimensions.
“The artists we have brought together for the second edition of Dhai Dubai are a radiant reflection of the UAE’s extraordinary spectrum of talent,” said Abulhoul. “This year, seven Emirati voices, each with their own language of light, come forward to share practices as diverse as the dreams of our nation. Their works reveal how light is not just illumination, but a heartbeat in our culture, shaping memory, inspiring connection and guiding imagination.”
- Dates: Until November 18
- Location: Al Wasl Plaza, Expo City Dubai
- Word on the Street: NURI Grill & Bar
For those venturing to the capital amid the cultural buzz, a fresh culinary stop awaits. NURI Grill & Bar, perched at Hilton Abu Dhabi on Yas Island, delivers a unique blend of Korean flavors and philosophy with Emirati resonance. The word “nuri,” meaning “light” in Arabic and “world” in Korean, sets the tone for a lively, enlightened dining experience.
Menu highlights begin with classic Korean banchan — small savory side dishes like kimchi and prawn balls — leading into sizzling barbecue grilled at the table. Standout dishes include the tenderloin katsu sandwich, dumplings stuffed with seasoned meat and cabbage, and a beef tartare taco that fuses tradition with contemporary flair.
- Location: Hilton Abu Dhabi, Yas Island
- Dubai Diary
‘The Wild Within’ by Ryan Koopmans and Alice Wexell
Digital artistry takes a breathtaking form at Leila Heller Gallery in Dubai, where artist duo Ryan Koopmans and Alice Livijn Wexell present The Wild Within. The series revives decaying architectural marvels across the Middle East — from Al Madam Village in Sharjah to the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi — through vivid digital renderings.
Two key works, “Heartbeats” and “The Wish,” are featured on a Ventana screen by Megapixel, marking the technology brand’s entry into the region. The display transforms static visual art into an immersive, near-living encounter.
“The Ventana digital canvas vividly reveals the subtle motion, shifting light, vibrant color and dramatic architecture depicted in the artwork, emphasizing the aesthetic qualities that we seek to express,” Koopmans said.
- Dates: Until January 8, 2026
- Location: Leila Heller Gallery, Dubai
‘Manar Abu Dhabi’ Returns for Second Edition
Further reflecting the UAE’s commitment to public creativity, Manar Abu Dhabi — the capital’s light art festival — returns with 23 compelling installations by 15 artists and collectives from 10 countries. Guided by this year’s theme, “The Light Compass,” the exhibition spans coastal and desert locations, including Jubail Island, Souq Al Mina, Al Qattara, and Al Jimi in Al Ain.
The show includes site-specific light sculptures, immersive activations and a calendar of workshops, talks and performances — bridging the historical role of light in Gulf tradition with contemporary global artistry.
Curated by artistic director Khai Hori, with Alia Zaal Lootah, Munira Al Sayegh and assistant curator Mariam Alshehhi, Manar is a monumental reflection of aesthetic and geographic convergence.
- Dates: Until January 4, 2026
- Locations: Abu Dhabi Corniche, Al Ain, Al Qattara, Jubail Island
ICOM 27th General Conference: Museums Shaping the Future
In a landmark moment for the region, the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) takes place in Dubai — the first edition in ICOM’s 79-year history to be hosted in the Middle East, Africa or South Asia. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the event revolves around the theme “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities.”
Bringing together more than 4,500 experts, 400 speakers and 26 international committees, the event reimagines how museums must adapt to global challenges — from technology and climate to displacement and education.
“This conference marks a milestone in Dubai’s cultural journey, reflecting its strong presence on the global map and its capacity to lead the international dialogue on the future of museums,” said Hala Badri, director general of Dubai Culture and chairwoman of the ICOM Dubai 2025 organizing committee.
- Dates: Until November 17
- Location: Dubai World Trade Center
- Book of the Week: Dubai – Behind an Urban Spectacle
As the UAE’s creative landscape flourishes, understanding its urban journey remains vital. Yasser Elsheshtawy’s formative text, Dubai – Behind an Urban Spectacle, continues to offer essential insight. The book traces Dubai’s transformation from fishing village to megacity, examining architectural modernization through layers of cultural, economic and symbolic evolution.
Relevant now more than ever, Elsheshtawy’s work, first published 15 years ago, is a cornerstone offering scholars, planners and creatives alike a closer look into how Dubai came to define architectural expression on the global stage.
- View from Dubai
Reflecting on the ICOM gathering, Chairwoman Hala Badri emphasized that the conference is structured around three primary pillars: intangible heritage, new technologies and youth engagement. These focus areas resonate widely among international cultural institutions and underscore Dubai’s prominent role in shaping museum futures on a global scale.
Team V.DIR-EM-UAE
