The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) is celebrating Emirati culture at the 13th Sikka Art & Design Festival, under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture. Taking place in Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood, the festival features over 250 artists from the UAE and the GCC, offering a variety of creative experiences. Dubai Culture aims to provide emerging talent with a platform to showcase their work to diverse audiences.
The ‘House of Saffron’
This year’s edition introduces the ‘House of Saffron’ (House 416), a dedicated space highlighting seven saffron-inspired works. Among them, Fatima Alsuwaidi’s An Exploration Through Poetry and Traditions examines the cultural significance of saffron, while Saffron’s Prints by Mariam Bayat explores its relationship with nature. Omar Al Othman’s documentary Saffron in UAE delves into its heritage through interviews with a perfumer, a saffron vendor, and a poet.
A collective from One Third Studio—Amna Bin Bishr, Duna Al Ajlan, and Dania Al Ajlan—presents a saffron-inspired tableware collection. Meanwhile, Roudhah Al Mazrouei’s Terrain captures a UAE village landscape, and Roudha Bu Abdulla’s Saffron-Infused Emirati Dishes illustrates six traditional recipes featuring saffron. Taqwa Alnaqbi showcases Preserved Saffron, further emphasizing the spice’s cultural role.
Culinary and Musical Experiences
Visitors can enjoy saffron-inspired dishes from nine renowned chefs, including Maitha Warshaw, Arwa Lootah, and Halima Bahlooq, at the ‘Supper Club,’ where tableware and furniture reflect the warmth of the saffron flower. Additionally, 51 food stalls, such as Farmers, Midori, and Wakame, will offer a variety of cuisines.
The festival also includes over 100 live music performances featuring artists like Maryam Omran Sajwani, Rashid Waleed Al Marzouqi, and Kamal Musallam. Notable bands such as The One-Man Band, Nafas, and The Fizz Group will take the stage. Six orchestral performances will feature the Firdaus Orchestra led by A.R. Rahman, alongside ensembles like the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra and the UAE Philharmonic Orchestra by ToDA.
Art Installations and Cultural Highlights
Sikka showcases Dubai’s history through Wind Canvas, a project featuring three collaborative works inspired by maritime trade. Artists Khawla Darwish and Rashid Al Mulla created the first sail, drawing from Dubai’s Fish Roundabout, while Ghada Mehdi and German Fernandez envisioned a journey of memories. Hessa Al Awadhi and Maryam Al Ramsi crafted the third sail, merging digital and traditional art to reflect Al Shindagha’s commercial legacy.
Festival-goers can also experience Creatives on Wheels, a shadow puppetry performance by Boubaker Boukhari, Lina Younes, and Samer Arzouni. The story, inspired by Dubai Creek, follows a crocodile and a bird in a tale of unity, performed in Arabic with live music.
Supporting Local Creativity
Sikka Art 2025 features more than 50 retail stores, including From The Arabs, which preserves cultural heritage through fragrances, and Tropicfeel, a sustainable fashion brand. Other notable stores include Atuyah Studios, Creams Botanics, and Yello for Sustainable Abayas, the region’s first circular, zero-waste abaya brand.
The Ahlan W Sahlan Creative Studio will present innovative designs from brands like Clique, Elain Knit, and The Noor Creative. The festival runs until 9 February and is supported by Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Police, Dubai Civil Defence, and the Emirates Council for Rural Development.