Within the framework of the directives of H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of Dubai Women Establishment (DWE), President of Dubai Ladies Club (DLC), and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, to highlight the creativity of Emirati women and their achievements in the culture and arts sector, Dubai Women Establishment kicked off the inspiring “Dubai Women’s Talks” session featuring Amna Abulhoul, Executive Creative Director of Events and Entertainment at Expo City Dubai, as part of the activities of the 12th Edition of the Sikka Arts and Design Platform.
The Sikka Arts and Design Platform 2024 was organised by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) in Al Shindagha Historical Neighbourhood, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), and Member of the Dubai Council.
The session, themed "Unleashing her Creativity," was attended by Saeed Hareb, Secretary-General of Dubai Sports Council, Naeema Ahli, Acting CEO of Dubai Women Establishment, and Sultana Saif, Director of the Women Development Department at Dubai Women Establishment.
Moderated by media personality Diala Al Ali, the session delved into Amna Abulhoul’s illustrious creative journey, from her formative years at the College of Arts and Design to her groundbreaking contributions to Expo Dubai 2020. Reflecting on themes of art, identity, and fostering young talent, the discussion underscored the pivotal role of opportunities in nurturing creativity and professional growth.
Naeema Ahli, Acting CEO of Dubai Women Establishment, said that this session comes within the framework of a series of sessions included in the “Dubai Women’s Talks” initiative, which the Establishment launched as an encouraging and empowering platform championing women's innovation and leadership across diverse fields. They exchange opinions, knowledge and experiences with the female students and those involved in culture and arts.
She added that this initiative comes within the framework of the Dubai Women Establishment's strategy 2023-2027, which includes many projects and initiatives that support cultural and knowledge exchange, in implementation of the directives of Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, emphasised the importance of highlighting the creativity and achievements of Emirati women in all sectors, including the culture and arts sector, which is one of the main components in shaping the cultural fabric of Dubai.
She emphasised Her Highness's keenness to have the Establishment participate in cultural and artistic events, exhibitions, and festivals that represent bridges of communication between different peoples and cultures.
Naeema Ahli appreciated the cooperative relationship between Dubai Women Establishment and the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, which contribute to achieving the vision of the Dubai government to strengthen strategic partnerships and exchange best practices and institutional experiences at all levels, noting that this cooperation includes developing and implementing joint programs to highlight the cultural role of Emirati women and launching initiatives. It supports cultural and knowledge exchange for future leaders.
During the session, Amna Abulhoul emphasised the transformative power of setting clear goals. She recounted her transformative experiences, such as participating in the Disneyland World Competition, where she ranked among the top three, greatly influencing her career.
She noted that the most important thing she learned from Disney is the ability to speak a universal language through creativity, which weaves itself into cohesive stories based on genuine feelings. She stressed that any work, artistic or otherwise, is not complete without the entire team's efforts.
Amna Abulhoul spoke about her experience in being the creative director of the Expo, saying,
“As soon as I entered Expo, I drew in my imagination Al Wasl Plaza,” stressing that it was an experience full of significant challenges, especially since it coincided with the COVID pandemic, and she added, “The most important thing is that we aimed to restore hope during one of the most difficult times for the whole world.” She pointed out the great support that she found from Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, Director General of Expo 2020 Dubaiand that the most important thing in this support is trust. She added, “The story of the opening of Expo included the world's team of artists and Expo employees from more than 150 nationalities.”
Regarding her experience at the Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival, Amna Abulhoul confirmed that it was a different experience because it was a challenge with the festivals of lights spread around the world and that what the team of 7 artists did was reflect the culture of our country, noting that the selection of artists was carefully studied and that the festival found a lot of interest. From innovators worldwide, adding,
“The time has come when the world reaches us instead of us reaching it.”
During the conclusion, Amna pointed out the importance of exhibitions and festivals organised by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), stressing that giving artists confidence, freedom, and space is vital to supporting them throughout their creative journey. She underscored the importance of collaboration, family support, and providing artists with the freedom to innovate; echoing a sentiment throughout the session, she said,
“Creativity knows no bounds.”
News Source: Emirates News Agency
