Whether it’s art, film, or performance, the city has something to suit your tastes, Shortlist reports.
Living in Dubai, we are blessed to have so many options when it comes to experiencing the culture of the city. Yes, you did read that correctly. Some would have you believe the region is distinctly lacking when it comes to culture and the arts, that Dubai offers little more than the opportunity to feast on a Friday to your heart’s content at one of many brunches, and acquire a year-round suntan. Not so.
Here at ShortList, we know that couldn’t be further from the truth, and after reading this guide, you will be completely up to speed, and able to pinpoint which home-grown dining establishment is serving up the tastiest grub and what are the best venues for a night of cracking comedy. Deal?
Why does Dubai have a reputation as a city lacking cultural depth? Well, in truth, there are a number of reasons perpetuating this particular myth. After all, if you don’t actually live in the city, your main reference point is probably a string of social media selfies by holiday-makers posing at the most glamorous destinations, such as Five The Palm or Burj Al Arab. Let’s be honest, the chances of coming across somebody posting a snap from an independent cinema, or theatre production, are non-existent.
It’s also important to remember that Dubai, as it’s known today, is still very new, but the reality is that the culture scene in the city is absolutely thriving. Whether your passion is art, theatre, performance, film, food, or a combination of them all, your needs are catered for.
From Alserkal Avenue, a renowned cultural district of contemporary art galleries, non-profit organisations, and homegrown businesses, to d3, otherwise known as the Dubai Design District, DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre) and the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, there really is so much to explore in order to secure your cultural fix in the city.
Alserkal Avenue was established in 2008 and provides cultural experiences for local, regional, and international audiences. Located in Al Quoz, in the 11 years since its formation it has gone on to become an essential platform for the development of the creative industries and, in Cinema Akil and The Junction, boasts two of the key cultural venues in Dubai in terms of film and theatre respectively.
“Primarily our goal is to be a voice of the community and to be a home for the film-lovers community or communities that can congregate around the conversation to do with cinema”, says Butheina Kazim, founder of Cinema Akil.
“We want to be a reflection of the city that we’re part of and the way we think about our programming allows people to come together in a different way than they would in a regular multi-plex cinema.”
Warehouse Four, a 4,000 square foot event space where you can watch documentary screenings, comedy productions and one-man shows, can also be found in Al Quoz with Ian Carless, who runs the venue, detailing the extent of its operation.
“We put on a mixture of theatre shows and film screenings and we do that primarily for marketing and PR, not to make a profit,” he explains.
“We’ve been very focused in what we do. I’ve recently picked out a bunch of theatre shows that did well at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and brought them over, we’ve had two so far with some more to come.
“We stick to one-man and two-man shows. We’re very much fringe theatre, we don’t do the traditional stuff. We’ve been going for over three years but we’ve only just started doing our own events and I think there is a market for theatre productions here in Dubai.”
One of the most pivotal organisations is The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, which was established in 1998 with the aim of acting as a bridge between the huge number of different nationalities visiting the UAE, whether on holiday or a more permanent basis, through its award-winning programmes.
“In a modern cosmopolitan city like Dubai with over 200 nationalities living together, the distance between people is not only measured in miles and often your neighbour is a stranger,” says Abdallah Bin Eisa Al Serkal, director of the SMCCU.
“Through its many activities, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding strives to bring different cultures closer together, promoting mutual understanding and acceptance, making the UAE an example of peaceful coexistence.”
Jameel Arts Centre, an independent institution dedicated to exhibiting contemporary art to the public and engaging communities, is one of the newest additions to the city’s cultural landscape having only opened in 2018 at Jadaf Waterfront. Director Antonia Carver highlights its aims.
“Jameel Arts Centre is Dubai’s first contemporary art museum, offering three floors of exhibitions, a sculpture park, library, multiple commissions and interventions, an espresso bar and design/bookshop, plus a year-round roster of cultural events and workshops,” she said.