Season Of Wulfa In Dubai: Latifa Bint Mohammed Leads Cultural Initiative For Emirati Celebration

The Season of Wulfa initiative in Dubai is moving into a key implementation phase, as H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum met creative and government partners. The meeting reviewed how the season will mark Haq Al Leila, Ramadan, and Eid with cultural experiences. Discussions focused on preserving Emirati identity while engaging residents and visitors across Dubai.

The Season of Wulfa highlights three main occasions that carry deep cultural meaning. These are Haq Al Leila before Ramadan, the holy month itself, and Eid celebrations. Through these events, the initiative aims to reflect Emirati customs, strengthen family and community ties, and promote shared values. It also supports cultural exchange among UAE nationals, residents, and international visitors.

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H.H. Sheikha Latifa linked the Season of Wulfa to Dubai’s wider cultural vision. She stressed that culture helps build social unity, tolerance, coexistence, and respect for diversity. She noted that this approach reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who focuses on investing in people and aligning policies around their happiness and sustainable well-being.

H.H. Sheikha Latifa emphasised that the season is framed around three pillars: reflection, connection, and blessing. "Wulfa reinforces a sense of belonging and underpins the living traditions of our society. It represents a state of harmony, warmth, and familiarity that brings people together, while offering an opportunity to pause, reflect, and renew our relationships. Through its spiritual meanings and shared moments, the season encourages us to strengthen our connections and envision a better present and future, inspired by the depth of our identity and the authenticity of our values," she further said.

H.H. Sheikha Latifa also highlighted the broader social message behind the initiative. "The season carries an inspiring message rooted in shared humanity, celebrating joy, generosity, and belonging, while raising awareness of the importance of preserving inherited cultural practices. It also underscores Dubai’s enabling environment for creativity, opening wide horizons for talent to express ideas, perspectives, and aspirations in celebrating these occasions." She underlined the vital role of strategic partners in achieving these aims and in supporting Dubai’s development goals.

The Season of Wulfa creative collective brings together Emirati specialists from design, architecture, literature, media, arts, and cultural research. Their different backgrounds help deepen the cultural and intellectual content of the season. Through research, dialogue, design work, and testing, the group helps define the narrative of the season. This narrative remains rooted in Emirati society while reflecting universal human values.

Season of Wulfa partners and participants

Members of the creative collective explained that the development phase involved intensive dialogue and structured research. They said this process helped shape initiatives around reflection, connection, and blessing, which they see as central social values. The collective conducted a series of discussions and community testing rounds. These efforts helped frame the season’s vision, ambitions, cultural reach, and social impact, and guided the design of its visual identity and implementation framework.

The meeting gathered representatives from many Dubai government entities that support the Season of Wulfa. Participating institutions included The Executive Council of Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority - Dubai, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, and the Community Development Authority. Also present were the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, the Government of Dubai Media Office, Expo City Dubai, Dubai Future Foundation, and the Dubai Department of Finance.

Season of Wulfa programmes and future outlook

The gathering also brought together a wide group of creatives and cultural ambassadors. The group was led by Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, CEO of the Arts, Design and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture. Other participants included artist and calligrapher Mattar Bin Lahej, director Haider Mohammad, director Mohammad Saeed Harib, architect Abdalla Almulla, and artist Hind bin Demithan.

Further contributors included designer Shatha Essa, director Amna Belhoul, designer Hessa Aleissa, writer Eman AlYousuf, designer Ahmed Bukhash, designer Omar Al Gurg, artist Reem Al Ghaith, and artist Mohammed Kazem. Cultural experts taking part were Abdulla Al Matrooshi, Juma Bin Thalith, Dhaen Shahin, Juma Thani Al Raqad, and Mohammad Bin Thani. Their knowledge helped connect contemporary practice with heritage.

During the meeting, participants discussed how the Season of Wulfa can express authentic Emirati and Arab values. They said the season reflects the spirit of local society and its rich heritage. The creative collective presented milestones and research outputs, including studies on shifts in Emirati and Arab social values. These findings helped refine how cultural occasions are interpreted within the season’s programmes.

Looking ahead, members of the collective said their collaborative approach supports ongoing engagement with the wider creative community. They expect this to generate new programme models and keep evolving the season. They aim to translate traditions into meaningful human experiences that maintain cultural continuity while remaining relevant to current social realities in Dubai and the wider region.

The Season of Wulfa will include more than 50 activities and initiatives. These will be delivered with several government partners, the private sector, and local communities. Events will take place at over 30 locations across Dubai, including neighbourhoods, markets, and cultural destinations. The programme is designed to support social bonds, highlight Emirati identity, and welcome diverse audiences.

With inputs from WAM