Salik Company PJSC, Dubai’s exclusive toll gate operator, has partnered with Dubai Culture and Arts Authority to launch a citywide design competition inviting creatives to reimagine Salik tags through their personal interpretation of Dubai.
Titled Erth Dubai Through Your Eyes, the competition calls on artists, designers, calligraphers, and graffiti artists to submit original tag designs that reflect the emirate’s cultural diversity, creative energy, and evolving identity. The initiative is open to the artistic, creative, and youth communities and aims to transform a daily mobility essential into a canvas for creative expression.
Submissions are open until 19 January 2026, with a total prize pool of AED 100,000. The first-place winner will receive USD 15,000, followed by USD 7,000 for second place and USD 5,000 for third. Winners will be announced during the 14th Sikka Art and Design Festival, scheduled to run from 23 January to 1 February 2026 in the Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood.
Entries will be reviewed by a joint judging committee representing the Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Culture, and Salik. The selected designs will expand Salik’s design library while encouraging experimentation and innovation across Dubai’s creative sector.
Salik CEO Ibrahim Al Haddad said the initiative supports youth creativity and strengthens the role of art in shaping Dubai’s future, while contributing to a smart and sustainable mobility ecosystem. Dubai Culture’s Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi highlighted the competition’s role in showcasing Dubai’s identity and nurturing local talent.
All submissions must be original, contemporary, and aligned with the values and traditions of the local community.
News Source: Dubai Media Office
