From October 30 to November 1, Dubai hosted the World Cities Culture Summit 2024, the largest in the event’s history, welcoming over 140 senior leaders from 36 cities worldwide. The Summit, held in the Middle East and North Africa for the first time, was organised with Dubai Culture & Arts Authority under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.  

Centred around the theme, “Tomorrow’s Culture: How Will the Next Generation Shape Our World?” the Summit encouraged policymakers, deputy mayors, and cultural leaders to address how cities can support and grow the next generation of creatives. Our most multilingual Summit to date, panels, workshops and discussions were held in seven languages. 

Research on Youth and Culture 

The Summit unveiled two significant reports on youth and culture. Dubai Culture’s “The Future of Education” and our joint report, “Nothing About Us Without Us: Youth and Culture in Global Cities Today,” featuring global case studies highlighting culture’s role in youth empowerment and citizenship. With 30% of the global population under 25, cities are increasingly focusing on engaging young people in ways that are meaningful and impactful. 

Launch of third round of the Leadership Exchange Programme 

We launched the third round of our flagship Leadership Exchange Programme, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. This programme has already facilitated 11 exchanges involving 22 cities and empowering 185 cultural leaders to share strategies on issues like creative workspace shortages and representation of indigenous voices in the public realm. Applications for the third round are open to our city partners and information is available through our new Partner’s Hub. 

Programme partnerships  

This year’s Summit Programme saw collaborations with leading global cultural organizations, including the British Council, Itau Cultural, Julie’s Bicycle and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. 

The panel, African Cities, Global Voices, co-curated with Lago Collective, the Africa-Europe Mayors’ Dialogue (ODI), and the Moleskine Foundation, brought together city leaders from Accra, Dakar, and Freetown, and Moky Makura, Director of Africa No Filter. The discussion highlighted how African cities are driving cultural innovation and boosting creative jobs.  

We also introduced our first Night Time Accelerator, a collaboration with Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and VibeLab nightlife consultants, aimed at enhancing cities’ cultural strategies after dark. This pilot leadership programme, brought together nine cities who are pioneering night time policies, including Amsterdam, Cologne, Dubai, Barcelona, Guangzhou, London, Tokyo, Toronto and San Francisco. 

Plenary exploring ‘Ideas for tomorrow’

“Put all your money into cultural production right now, that is where all your returns will be” stated Indy Johar, Architect and Executive Director of Dark Matter Labs, while debating the future of culture alongside fellow panellists: Ruth McKenzie CBE, Director of Culture & Creative Industries Policy, Government of South Australia; Justin O’Connor, global policy expert, academic and author of ‘Culture is not an industry’; and Laia Gasch Director of World Cities Culture Forum. Speakers explored the potential for culture to become a UN Sustainable Development Goal post 2030 and hardwiring culture as a public good and vital social infrastructure in cities.

Public session with Dubai’s creative community 

At Alserkal Avenue, Dubai’s iconic cultural district, we hosted an open public session, “Tomorrow’s Talent: What Do Creatives Need from Cities?”  

Moderated by Justine Simons OBE, London’s Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries and Chair of World Cities Culture Forum, the session welcomed over 150 members of Dubai’s creative community. Panellists included Milan’s Deputy Mayor for Culture, Tommaso Sacchi; Dubai-based Graphic Designer and Educator Alanood Bukhamas, CEO of Itau Cultural, Jader Andre de Souza Rosa; Vice President of Dubai Design Institute, Hani Asfour; and Sydney’s City Architect, Bridget Smyth. 

Celebrating Emirati Heritage 

Delegates experienced Dubai’s cultural landscape firsthand with visits to six notable venues, including the Al Shindagha Museum, celebrating UAE heritage, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, and the newly opened Museum of the Future, dedicated to science, space and technology. Emirati artists, chefs, and immersive performances also enriched the Summit with showcases of local talent and craft traditions.