Under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, 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 this partnership over the past five years. The “E-learning” initiative, launched since the start of the partnership, saw creatives participate in over 53,500 training courses by the end of 2024, covering important fields such as artificial intelligence, with more than 265,000 educational videos watched and over 16,800 training hours completed.

10,000 Talents

The initiative aims to empower 10,000 creative talents by the end of this year, underscoring the importance of this partnership and cementing the status of Dubai Culture and LinkedIn at the forefront of efforts to build a creative community and foster an innovative environment that prepares future generations.

The partnership between Dubai Culture and LinkedIn was a response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely impacted the creative community. The joint initiative was launched to support and empower creatives, artists, and talented individuals by enhancing their artistic skills and providing practical skills to help them adapt, grow, and sustain their careers. The initiative has since become a key platform supporting creative competencies and preparing them to make a sustainable impact in a rapidly changing world.

Culture of Excellence

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum emphasized the importance of this partnership in fostering a culture of excellence and innovation in the creative sector, stating: “This partnership acts as a bridge between talents, knowledge, and opportunities, connecting creative talents with the professional world, which positively reflects on strengthening the creative economy and shaping our lifestyle and vision for the future.”

She added: “The success we have witnessed confirms my confidence and belief in the strength of our creative community. Creatives are ambitious, unique thinkers, innovators, and change-makers. It is our duty to provide them with the tools to transform their ideas and visions into inspiring realities.”

Dubai Culture continues to elevate the cultural scene in Dubai, strengthen its creative economy, and enhance its position as a global cultural hub, a creative incubator, and a talent gathering place. The pioneering partnership with LinkedIn since 2020 reflects its commitment to enhancing cultural and creative industries, supporting emerging talents, and empowering the creative community by providing an innovative platform that develops their skills, equips them with knowledge to refine their talents, and builds strong networks to boost their global presence and success.

Ali Mattar, Head of LinkedIn Middle East, North Africa, and Emerging Markets, said Dubai Culture, as a strategic partner, has played a pivotal role in making Dubai a destination for creative talents. At a time when skill development is essential in the job market, this partnership enabled supporting creative professionals and providing them with the tools to keep pace with global changes and unleash their full potential.

Expanding the Partnership

In light of the initiative’s great success, Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum directed during a meeting attended by Dubai Culture Director General Hala Badri, Ali Mattar, Lisa Gunarsson, LinkedIn’s Vice President of Talent Solutions for Enterprises, and several executives from both sides, to extend and expand the cooperation between the two parties. The focus will be on providing creatives greater access to opportunities and direct engagement with the job market, contributing to preparing future competencies and positively impacting Dubai’s cultural and creative industries ecosystem.

Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed:

• “Creatives are ambitious, unique thinkers, innovators, and change-makers. It is our duty to provide them with the tools to turn their ideas and visions into inspiring realities.”
• “The partnership has connected creative talents with the professional world, positively impacting the creative economy.”