Photographed by Paola Kudacki for Vogue Arabia September 2021
Dubai’s vibrant culture and booming art realm can now be at your fingertips. Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has announced that the emirate will have its own place on Google Arts & Culture. The online platform is dedicated to creating virtual heritage and cultural experiences across the world that can be accessed by anyone.
As part of the venture, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority has begun exhibiting over 800 high-resolution images including 120 artifacts and over 70 stories in Arabic and English, documenting the emirate’s history and present. Dubai aspires to offer the world unique cultural experiences while bringing emerging artists and creatives to the forefront and highlighting their work.
I'm pleased to launch the inaugural #Dubai profile on @googlearts in partnership with @googlearabia, allowing people to discover Dubai through an immersive storytelling experience like no other.⁰#Google #Culture #Art #DubaiCulture pic.twitter.com/Yg0yWieLvy
— Latifa MR Al Maktoum (@LatifaMRM) September 8, 2021
The project was launched by HH Sheikha Latifa in the presence of HE Hala Badri, Director-General of Dubai Culture, Amit Sood, Director and Founder of Google Arts & Culture, Lino Cattaruzzi, Managing Director of Google in the Middle East & North Africa amongst other dignitaries.
Her Highness stated, “Today, I am pleased to be launching Dubai’s Culture & Heritage on Google Arts & Culture. Technology and creativity often intersect, resulting in fascinating experiences, and Google Arts and Culture is a prime example. Through this innovative platform, people will be able to embark on a journey to explore Dubai’s unique story, its rich history, vibrant culture, and ever-evolving creative scene.” She continued, “The emirate has a unique, dynamic identity rooted in the diversity of its fabric; it is a place of rich culture and creativity that embraces people and cultures from all over the world, and where global excellence is not just an ambition but a reality.”
Al Shindagha Historical Neighborhood. Photographed by Paola Kudacki for Vogue Arabia September 2021
An ardent champion of the arts, HH Sheikha Latifa became the chairperson of Dubai Culture in 2020. “I’m proud of what I do and I don’t see it as work. It’s passion, dedication, it’s my life. I found my purpose in the happiness of the people of Dubai and nurturing and supporting the cultural and creative scene of Dubai,” she told Vogue Arabia, starring on the cover of our September issue. Throughout her career, the royal has overseen a number of endeavors dedicated to enriching the artistic and cultural realm in Dubai, namely, the 10-year cultural visa, events such as Art Dubai, and the Sikka Art Fair.
