The UAE is accelerating efforts to position culture and creativity as fully integrated economic sectors, linking talent and creative production with financing, intellectual property rights, distribution networks and domestic and international markets.
Developments recorded across the country in 2026 highlight the growing scale of the UAE’s cultural and creative industries, covering publishing, film, gaming, design, digital content, financing programmes and talent development. Together, these initiatives are creating new products, investment opportunities and commercial pathways within the creative economy.
Dubai has emerged as a major centre for creative investment. The emirate retained its position as the world’s leading destination for attracting new foreign direct investment projects in the cultural and creative industries for the fourth consecutive year in 2025.
Dubai attracted 754 new projects during the year, generating capital investment flows valued at US$3.756 billion and creating more than 19,300 jobs.
Investment covered sectors including advertising and public relations, programming and digital services, film and media production, electronic gaming, creative technology, education, design and architecture.
Publishing has also become an important part of the UAE’s expanding creative economy.
The 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair brought together 1,200 exhibitors from 95 countries, including seven nations participating for the first time. The event also featured around 1,500 activities and professional sessions examining the future of publishing, intellectual property, translation rights, changing reader behaviour and emerging market trends.
On the opening day of the fair, the value of book sales increased by 97 percent compared with the same period in 2025, while the number of books sold rose by 108 percent. Visitor numbers increased by 11 percent and overall sales climbed by 93 percent.
Growth in the publishing industry is also extending into distribution and rights management.
Menassah Distribution made 1,004 titles from 75 UAE-based publishing houses available during the 2026 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, representing a total stock of 8,500 books.
The National Media Authority also reported that more than 100,000 permits were issued for the circulation of books and publications in the UAE during 2025. Nearly 1.2 million titles entering the country through various entry points were also processed.
Research conducted by Sharjah Publishing City indicates that the value of the UAE publishing market could grow from US$260 million to US$650 million by 2030.
Cinema remains another significant part of the country’s creative industries. According to the National Media Authority, UAE box-office revenues exceeded AED734 million in 2025, with more than 14.8 million tickets sold across approximately 1,270 films.
The gaming industry is also expanding rapidly. Digital gaming revenues reached AED2.7 billion, while the number of games reviewed and classified increased to 552, compared with 375 in 2024.
The figures underline the growing importance of digital content and technology-driven creative industries within the UAE economy.
Dubai is also investing heavily in design through the Dubai Design Sector Strategy 2033, which aims to strengthen the sector’s competitiveness and develop a larger pipeline of local talent and businesses.
The strategy targets a 20 percent increase in enrolment in higher education and continuing professional training programmes related to design, while creating opportunities for more than 25,000 students.
It also aims to support around 500 existing projects, incubate more than 100 new ventures, showcase over 500 local projects at international exhibitions and events, organise more than 100 events and attract four million local and international visitors by 2033.
The strategy covers fashion, product design, architecture and graphic design, while also supporting business formation and improving access to financing.
Investment in creative content production is also expanding.
Dubai Culture launched the “Stories of Wulfa” competition to support the production of an animated series inspired by Emirati culture, values and traditions.
The initiative offers AED2 million in funding for development, production and distribution. It is open to artists, writers, illustrators, directors, designers, filmmakers, animation studios and production companies.
Government funding programmes are playing a growing role in supporting both creative production and talent development.
The Ministry of Culture launched the fifth cycle of the National Grant Programme for Culture and Creativity, designed to support Emirati creatives and help them develop cultural and creative projects.
The programme provides support across four main categories: creativity and production, distribution and local participation, skills development, and international travel and mobility.
Eligible fields include writing and publishing, music, film and television, performing arts and theatre, visual arts and design, video games and cultural heritage.
The Ministry of Culture also announced a new cycle of the 2026 Cultural Public Benefit Associations Subsidies and Grants Programme in March.
The programme is designed to strengthen cultural associations and artistic groups, helping them deliver projects that support national identity, create new opportunities for talent and expand public participation in cultural activities across the UAE.
Funding is available for projects in areas including cultural festivals, cultural education, creative production, international participation, literature and the Arabic language, music, film and cinema, cultural heritage, national identity, design and architecture, visual and digital arts, animation, electronic gaming and culinary arts.
Taken together, the initiatives reflect the UAE’s broader push to build a diversified creative economy in which culture is increasingly connected with investment, technology, entrepreneurship, talent development and global markets.
