Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 6 March, 2017:  Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate's dedicated entity for culture, arts and heritage, has announced its participation in ITB Berlin – the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show® – as part of the Emirate’s stand at the event and in collaboration with the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). The show will take place from 8th to 12th March 2017 in Germany, and see the Authority shedding light on the city’s culture, arts and heritage highlights. 

His Excellency Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director General of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, commented: “ITB Berlin offers us a unique and valuable platform for promoting Dubai’s flourishing artistic and cultural scene on the global stage. We are committed to collaborating with government organisations like DTCM to support cultural tourism and the creative economy – both crucial contributors to Dubai’s thriving economy – by establishing Dubai as a global cultural and artistic hub. At ITB Berlin, we will be promoting visitor highlights including the recently opened Etihad Museum and the upcoming Dubai Art Season, which is the Authority’s flagship initiative and offers tourists an unmatched celebration of talent, creativity, innovation and cultural diversity.”

During ITB Berlin, Dubai Culture will showcase Dubai Art Season – a two-month citywide initiative of artistic and cultural events held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of Dubai Culture. For the fourth year running, it will bring the city to life with activations of art in public spaces, outdoor art projects, interactive initiatives, workshops, exhibitions, panel discussions, and performances held across Dubai to highlight the Emirate’s fast-growing creative landscape.

Dubai Culture’s mandate to preserve Emirati heritage will also be highlighted at ITB Berlin, where the Authority will promote the recently opened Etihad Museum. Guiding visitors on a journey through the monumental events that surrounded the agreement signing and Union declaration of 1971, the museum offers an insight into the Emirate’s rich history and is also one of the city’s most breath-taking tourist attractions.

Bringing a taste of Dubai’s thriving artistic scene to the fair, the Authority’s stand will also present Emirati artist Fatima Al Hammadi, who is a member of many local art associations and has participated in 13 exhibitions both inside and outside of the UAE. Fatima’s participation at the fair will see her showcasing her graffiti art skills and sharing her distinctive technique of blending the beauty of calligraphy with vivid and carefully selected colours.

Staged annually in Berlin, ITB Berlin features 10,000 exhibitors from 180+ countries, attracting over 120,000 trade visitors from the travel and tourism sectors. Showcasing the entire world under one roof, the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show® is the centre and pivotal point of the entire industry, featuring top destinations alongside hot topics and trends.

Dubai Culture is instrumental in enhancing Dubai’s cultural identity and establishing the city as a global destination for the world’s art lovers. Dubai Culture also aims to support the strong role that the cultural scene plays in driving tourism – a core economic sector for the city.