Dubai Culture’s partnership with LinkedIn has led to a 175% rise in UAE creative professionals, empowering thousands with training, skills, and global exposure.
Dubai: Under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority’s partnership with LinkedIn continues to revolutionise the UAE’s creative economy. Since its launch in 2020, this strategic collaboration has empowered the nation’s creative professionals through skills training, career development, and global connectivity.
What began during the COVID-19 lockdown as a lifeline for struggling creatives has now become a foundational pillar of the UAE’s cultural ecosystem. Over five years, the initiative has supported 53,500 course completions, delivered 16,800 hours of learning, and enabled access to over 265,000 educational videos.
Her Highness Sheikha Latifa said the partnership reflects her vision of connecting talent with opportunity to spark transformative growth in society. “This partnership with LinkedIn has shown that connecting talent with knowledge and opportunity can spark transformations that reach far beyond the creative economy,” she noted.
The results speak for themselves. Between 2022 and 2025, the number of creative professionals registered on LinkedIn in the UAE grew by 175%, far outpacing the global growth rate of 104%. The programme has trained creatives in vital new areas such as artificial intelligence, ensuring that Dubai’s creative sector remains globally competitive and future-ready.
Ali Matar, Head of LinkedIn MENA and Emerging Markets, praised the impact of the collaboration. “This partnership has allowed us to support creative professionals with the tools they need to navigate a rapidly changing world of work,” he said.
Following the programme’s success, Her Highness directed an expansion of the initiative to further increase access to job opportunities and strengthen Dubai’s role as a global capital for creativity and culture. The meeting was attended by Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture; LinkedIn leadership including Ali Matar and Lisa Gunnarsson; and senior executives from both organisations.
Together, Dubai Culture and LinkedIn aim to support 10,000 creative practitioners by 2025, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and networks to lead the next generation of cultural innovation.
