Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, today approved ‘Dubai Street Museum’ project, a new public art project that seeks to highlight Dubai’s unique identity, values and aspirations.

Spearheaded by Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO), in partnership with Dubai Municipality, the project will see international and local artists working together to create distinctive public artworks across the emirate.

His Highness reviewed the project at a meeting held at the Government of Dubai Media Office in the presence of Crown Prince of Dubai H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum; and Deputy Ruler of Dubai H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The project is inspired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s vision to transform Dubai into an open-air museum, and promote aesthetic excellence and innovation.

Speaking at the meeting, His Highness stressed the importance of preserving the UAE’s heritage so that it becomes a source of inspiration and learning in the quest for greater achievements. He said that we have a responsibility to instill a strong awareness of the UAE’s heritage in the minds of the country’s youth, since it is the source from which our civilization has flowered.

He also emphasised on the need to find creative ways of preserving our heritage and exploring innovative approaches to strengthen the relationship between our society and its roots. Innovation, he said, will build a bridge to our future.

Sheikh Mohammed praised the innovative spirit of the new generation of Emiratis, which is reflected in the many projects that have raised the UAE’s global profile and made it a pioneer in implementing innovation. The government, he said, is committed to provide all the support required to achieve the highest levels of innovation, which will make the UAE a magnet for talent from across the world.

Other key attendees at the meeting included Director General of Dubai Municipality Hussain Nasser Lootah and senior officials of Dubai Municipality.

His Highness was briefed by Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office Mona Ghanem Al Marri about the different components of the Dubai Street Museum project as well as the murals that will be painted on buildings in various streets across Dubai in partnership with Dubai Municipality and with the support of government, semi-government and private entities.

Sheikh Mohammed was also briefed on the phases of the project that will be implemented over five years in select areas of Dubai. These areas have been chosen on the basis of key factors that include the density of population and the number of visitors, so as to ensure the maximum visibility for the artworks.

Hatta will be one of the key places where the ‘Dubai Street Museum’ project will be implemented. The artworks to be developed for Hatta will be aligned with the historical context and physical environment of the region. This will support Hatta’s comprehensive development plan announced recently to enhance its position as a culture and tourist hub.

HH Sheikh Mohammed also gave the go-ahead for the ‘2nd of December Street’ project, the first initiative of ‘Dubai Street Museum’. The project will bring together 16 international and local artists to paint murals on 16 buildings located along the 2nd of December Street in Dubai. His Highness said that the historical significance of the 2nd of December Street makes it an ideal location for the first series of murals to be created under the ‘Dubai Street Museum’ project.

Art students from prominent UAE universities will actively participate in the project and provide support to the commissioned artists.