ArtDayMe : Azadeh Jafarian: For ten days, the narrow lanes and restored heritage houses along Dubai Creek were anything but quiet. Courtyards turned into exhibition spaces, walls became canvases, and everyday streets filled with colour, sound and conversation. Organised by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the festival marked its 14th edition with the theme “Imagining Dubai: Identities of the Future.”

Unlike traditional art events confined to galleries, Sikka invited visitors to wander freely, discovering creativity in unexpected places. Artworks, installations and performances were spread organically throughout the neighbourhood, encouraging exploration and personal connection rather than a fixed route or formal setting.

This year’s festival showcased more than 40 public artworks and murals, alongside installations and exhibitions by emerging and established artists from the UAE, the wider Gulf region and beyond. Together, they transformed Al Shindagha into a living art environment where contemporary ideas flowed naturally through historic architecture, allowing tradition and modern expression to exist side by side.

Participation remained at the heart of the Sikka experience. Visitors were encouraged not just to observe, but to engage. A wide programme of hands-on workshops covered disciplines such as photography, printmaking, calligraphy and ceramics, while talks and panel discussions offered insight into creative practice, cultural identity and the future of the arts. As evening fell, the festival atmosphere deepened with live music, dance and performance, turning the district into a social and cultural gathering point.

Community involvement played a key role throughout the festival. Initiatives like Dubai Police’s Al Sunaa Studio introduced interactive workshops for families and young visitors, demonstrating how art can connect creativity with social awareness, heritage and shared values.

Beyond exhibitions and performances, Sikka also embraced everyday experiences. Pop-up cafés, food stalls and artisan markets gave visitors places to linger, meet and reflect, adding warmth and life to the historic surroundings and reinforcing the festival’s role as a community space rather than a formal event.

Free and open to all, the Sikka Art & Design Festival remains one of Dubai’s most inclusive cultural highlights. Its setting in Al Shindagha offers a rare opportunity to experience the city’s past while engaging directly with its creative future — all within the same walk.

For ten days each year, Sikka gently reminds Dubai and its visitors that art doesn’t belong only behind gallery walls. It belongs in the streets, in shared spaces, and in the everyday rhythm of the city itself.

These images are sourced from the official Instagram page of the Sikka Art & Design Festival.