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- Organised by Salik, Dubai Culture, and Erth Dubai, with a prize pool of USD 27,000
- Received more than 2,200 creative submissions from artists and designers across the UAE
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 02 February 2026: Salik, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), and Erth Dubai crowned the winners of the first edition of the “Erth Dubai Through Your Eyes” competition, which was organised to provide artists and creatives with the opportunity to contribute to the design of new Salik tags. This initiative reflects participants’ artistic visions, embodies Dubai’s creative spirit, and highlights the Emirate’s cultural diversity and the uniqueness of its artistic scene.
The awards ceremony was held as part of the 14th edition of the Sikka Art & Design Festival, hosted at the Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood, in the presence of representatives from Salik, Dubai Culture, and Erth Dubai.
Dina Azar was awarded first place, receiving a prize of USD 15,000, followed by Latifa Al Nuaimi in second place with a prize of USD 7,000, and Pradeep Sankunny in third place with a prize of USD 5,000.
The competition recorded remarkable participation, attracting more than 2,200 creative works submitted by artists and designers from around the world, representing diverse nationalities and cultural backgrounds. This level of engagement marked the highest level of community participation in cultural design initiatives, underscoring the initiative’s success in positioning the community as an active partner in creating creative content.
The submitted works were reviewed by a specialised judging committee comprising representatives from Salik, Dubai Culture, the Roads and Transport Authority, and Erth Dubai. The committee evaluated the submissions and selected three winning designs based on criteria including creativity, originality, alignment with the competition’s objectives, and the ability to highlight Dubai’s cultural identity.
The winning designs will enter the production and printing phase on official Salik tags, ahead of their launch for sale across Dubai at a later stage. This will enable the public to acquire unique artworks and engage with the creativity of members of the creative community in an experience that reflects the integration of art into everyday life and the Emirate’s mobility systems.
Ibrahim Sultan Al Haddad, Chief Executive Officer of Salik, stated that the “Erth Dubai Through Your Eyes” competition comes in response to the initiative of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and contributes to strengthening the legacy of ‘Erth Dubai’ by providing an innovative platform that enhances the value of Salik’s digital solutions and services and supports the development of a smart and sustainable mobility ecosystem. He affirmed that the collaboration with Dubai Culture in organising the competition aligns with Salik’s commitment to empowering youth, supporting creative innovation, and strengthening the presence of art and design within mobility experiences across Dubai.
He added that integrating artworks designed by members of the community into Salik products contributes to enhancing the customer experience and strengthening the emotional connection between residents, visitors, and the city’s mobility systems, supporting smart mobility objectives and community engagement, and reflecting the company’s approach to involving the community in the development of its products and services.
Al Haddad affirmed that the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to enabling the community to contribute to reshaping design elements associated with the mobility sector, while enhancing the cultural value of Salik tags as an essential part of the daily experience of residents and visitors on Dubai’s roads.
This aligns with the objectives of the Year of Community and Salik’s strategic vision, which is centred on community partnerships, cultural sustainability, and building long-term relationships between society and the Emirate’s smart mobility ecosystem. He also highlighted Salik’s continued focus on supporting the creative journey of young talent, encouraging innovation, and contributing to government initiatives that promote public participation and community development.
Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, Chief Executive Officer of the Arts, Design and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, noted that the “Dubai Through Your Eyes” competition encourages local talent to transform their ideas into high-quality works that support the growth of the cultural and creative industries. This aligns with the Authority’s goal of reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global hub for the creative economy.
Al Suwaidi added that Dubai Culture is committed to launching initiatives that open new opportunities for artists and encourage them to draw inspiration from Dubai’s heritage to create distinctive works reflecting the Emirate’s unique spirit and future aspirations. She expressed pride in the partnership with Salik and Erth Dubai, which aims to enhance creative impact and ensure the sustainability of the local arts ecosystem.
Mr. Ahmed Saad Al Shard, General Coordinator of the Erth Dubai initiative, stated that the “Erth Dubai Through Your Eyes” competition embodies the initiative’s vision of transforming Dubai’s cultural heritage into a living space for creative expression, with the community participating as an active partner in documenting identity and shaping its contemporary features. He noted that the strong engagement with the competition, reflected in the submission of more than 2,200 creative works, highlights the strength of the local artistic scene and the deep connection of creatives to the Emirate’s heritage and cultural diversity.
Al Shard underscored the strategic partnership with Salik and Dubai Culture that led to this distinguished project and congratulated the winners for blending elements of heritage with modern touches, reflecting the participating talents’ ability to present contemporary artistic visions rooted in Dubai’s cultural identity and resonate with diverse segments of society.
The “Erth Dubai Through Your Eyes” competition represents a strategic step within Salik’s efforts to expand its design portfolio and affirms the importance of cross-sector collaboration in developing Dubai’s integrated creative and cultural ecosystem. The initiative reflects a shared vision of making the community a key partner in long-term development and innovation.
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