Demystifying cultural boundaries in Dubai’s creative ecosystem: 21 global benchmarks. 11 cultural pillars. 5 strategic initiatives
Project: Cultural Sensitivity Study for the Arts & Culture Sector in UAE
Organization: Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (DCAA)
Role: Strategic Consultant & Research Partner
Collaborators: A project designed, developed, and implemented by Cross Culture
Region : UAE
Period: Q3 2023
Abu Dhabi, photo by Sarah Ghanimeh
Project Focus
Conducting a comprehensive study to define cultural sensitivity within Dubai’s creative landscape. This involved mapping the ecosystem, benchmarking global best practices, and developing a strategic framework for the sector.
What we aimed to solve
To provide clarity and coherence to the nuanced area of cultural sensitivity. The goal was to reduce ambiguity for artists and institutions, encouraging confident creative expression while respecting cultural boundaries.
The Context
Dubai’s creative ecosystem is highly diverse, yet navigating sensitive topics is challenging due to a lack of sector-specific guidelines. Existing regulations are often generic and not specifically tailored to the unique needs of the Arts & Culture community.
The Strategy
A strategy rooted in deep stakeholder consultation and multi-dimensional analysis. We defined a progression from awareness to competency and pinpointed eleven specific cultural elements, such as values, religion, and politics, to guide responsible practice.
Abu Dhabi, photo Sarah Ghanimeh
The Process
The project followed a structured journey: (1) Defining core terminologies, (2) Mapping the creative ecosystem, (3) Benchmarking 21 countries and international organizations, and (4) Formulating prioritized recommendations for DCAA.
Evidence of Impact
• Strategic framework: developed a roadmap of five high-priority initiatives, ranging from sector-wide guidelines to community consultation processes.
• Global positioning: provided an informed perspective based on global benchmarks, aligning Dubai with international best practices in cultural diversity.
• Clarity for creators: identified and defined 11 key cultural elements to help artists navigate social, political, and religious sensitivities with confidence.
• Ecosystem empowerment: proposed a standardized classification and age-rating system to enable informed audience choices and promote responsible expression.
