Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed emphasized the importance of the partnership between “Dubai Culture” and “LinkedIn” in empowering creative talents. The initiative has contributed to training thousands and increasing the number of professionals by 175%, with the collaboration extended.

Expanding Cooperation with Focus on Empowering Creatives

Ali Matar: Providing creative professionals with tools to keep pace with global changes

• 175% growth in the number of creative professionals from within the UAE on the platform
• Creative professionals attended over 53,500 courses
• Watched more than 265,000 educational videos
• Completed over 16,800 training hours
• Empowering 10,000 talents in the UAE by the end of 2025

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, highlighted the partnership’s role in instilling a culture of excellence and innovation in the creative sector.

She said: “This partnership acts as a link between talents, knowledge, and opportunities, connecting creative talents with the professional world, which reflects on enhancing the creative economy, as well as shaping our lifestyle and vision for the future. The success we have witnessed confirms my confidence and belief in the strength of our creative community. Creators are ambitious with unique ideas; they are innovators and change-makers. It is our duty to provide them with the tools that enable them to turn their ideas and visions into inspiring realities.”

Under her leadership, the partnership between the Authority and “LinkedIn”, the world’s largest professional network, has achieved unprecedented success in the UAE’s creative talent ecosystem. The number of creative professionals registered on the platform in the UAE increased by 175% between 2022 and 2025, surpassing the global growth rate of 104% during the same period.

The announcement was made during a meeting involving leaders from both sides, reviewing the key achievements of the partnership over the past five years. The e-learning initiative launched since the partnership began has seen creatives participate in over 53,500 training courses by the end of 2024, including educational tracks in important fields such as artificial intelligence, watching more than 265,000 educational videos, and completing over 16,800 training hours.

The initiative aims to empower 10,000 creative talents by the end of the current year, confirming the partnership’s importance and consolidating the position of “Dubai Culture” and “LinkedIn” at the forefront of efforts to build a creative community and create a supportive environment for innovation that prepares future generations.

The partnership between “Dubai Culture” and “LinkedIn” was launched in response to the challenges faced by the creative community during the COVID-19 pandemic. It addressed the need to support and empower creators, artists, and talented individuals by refining their artistic skills and equipping them with practical skills to adapt, grow, and sustain their careers. The initiative has since become a fundamental platform supporting creative competencies and enabling them to make a sustainable impact in a rapidly changing world.

Enhancing the Creative Economy

“Dubai Culture” continues to elevate Dubai’s cultural scene, strengthen its creative economy ecosystem, and enhance its status as a global cultural hub, a creative incubator, and a talent meeting point. The pioneering partnership with “LinkedIn” since 2020 reflects its commitment to boosting cultural and creative industries, supporting emerging talents, and empowering creative community members by providing an innovative platform that helps develop their skills, equips them with the knowledge needed to refine their talents and raise their level, and builds a strong network that enhances their global presence and success.

Key Role

Ali Matar, Head of LinkedIn Middle East, North Africa, and Emerging Markets, said: “We are pleased with our partnership with ‘Dubai Culture’, the strategic partner that has played a pivotal role in making Dubai a destination for creative talents. At a time when skill development is a necessity in the labor market, this partnership has enabled us to support creative professionals and provide them with the tools needed to keep up with global changes and unleash their full potential. We look forward to the next phase of our partnership to build and expand the vibrant cultural scene benefiting our community and future generations.”

Extension

In light of the great success achieved by the initiative, Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, during a meeting attended by Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, Ali Matar, Lisa Gunnarsson, Vice President of Talent Solutions for Enterprises at LinkedIn, and a group of CEOs and department heads from both sides, directed to extend and expand the cooperation between the two parties, focusing on providing creatives with greater access to opportunities and direct communication with the labor market, which contributes to preparing future competencies and positively impacts Dubai’s cultural and creative industries ecosystem.