Dubai outlines plan to boost creative sector's contribution to economy

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid wants to double the number of creative companies and push GDP value from 2.6 per cent to 5 per cent

Paintings by Angeles Agrela at Art Dubai at Dubai International Financial Centre, which featured 50 galleries with a focus on modern and contemporary art. Kamran Jebreili / AP

Related: With a sold-out first public day, the fair sees steady sales of up to $3 million

The Ruler of Dubai has set out a plan to boost the value of the city's creative sector - generating more jobs and doubling the number of companies in the industry.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said the government aims to increase the GDP contributions of the creative and arts sectors from 2.6 per cent to 5 per cent.

He said design, content, culture and arts will be a "major driver for the future of our country".

Sheikh Mohammed, also Vice President and Prime Minister, said about 8,300 companies trade in the emirate's creative sector today.

He wants to boost that to 15,000 by 2025 - bringing new jobs and prosperity as the world moves on from the coronavirus pandemic.

Today, about 70,000 people work in the creative sector in Dubai - in sectors ranging from design agencies based in Dubai Media City to fashion workshops and architecture studios in Dubai Design District.

Sheikh Mohammed said the goal was to boost that to 140,000 people.

"The UAE is a global economic capital, and creativity is part of our economy and of our quality of life, and a major engine for the future of our country," he said.

The campaign was launched as Art Dubai drew to a close on Saturday.

The live and in-person festival was regarded as a major success, with works of art from new and emerging artists selling out.

The festival drew significant foreign news coverage, at a time when most events are held virtually.

Art Dubai - top highlights from the festival

A portrait of Mame Kewe Aminata Lo by Kehinde Wiley at Galerie Templon, Art Dubai 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A piece by Abdoulaye Konate at Gallery 1957, Art Dubai 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Afifa Aleiby's 'Sunset' sold at Art Dubai on its first day. On view at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery booth. Chris Whiteoak / The National

James Clar's 'Taking a ride with my best friend' at the booth of Silverlens, a gallery from Manila, at Art Dubai 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A visitor at the Athr Gallery booth at Art Dubai 2021, which runs until Saturday, April 3. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dastan's Basement from Tehran features playful works by Iman Raad, Mamali Shafahi, Taba & Shooki, Farrokh Mahdavi and Yousha Bashir at Art Dubai 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A woman visits oil on canvas paintings by Ayesha Sultana of the Experimenter gallery in 14th edition of Art Dubai. AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili

A visitor with the work of Anish Kapoor called 'Random Triangle Mirror' at Art Dubai 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Fleeting Stains by Nahla Tabbaa, part of Campus Art Dubai's presentation at Art Dubai 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Prints by Marwan at Meem gallery booth at Art Dubai 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National