Celebrating Heritage: Dubai Awards Recognize Cultural Preservation Efforts

Dubai's leadership honored the winners of the 'Erth Dubai Awards', celebrating significant efforts in the preservation of the city’s cultural and social history. The awards ceremony took place at the Museum of the Future, attended by prominent leaders and officials.

The accolades were presented by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, alongside Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Esteemed guests included Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Sheikh Hasher bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum.

During his address, Sheikh Hamdan emphasized that Dubai’s remarkable achievements are anchored in a robust national identity and a well-documented heritage. He underscored that preserving heritage and acknowledging societal changes is vital for sustainable growth, balancing tradition with contemporary advancement.

He attributed Dubai’s ongoing cultural evolution to the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, noting that documenting collective heritage serves as a strategic initiative enhancing Dubai’s global stature.

The awards attracted extensive participation, garnering over 25,000 entries from citizens, residents, educational institutions, and organizations, showcasing a collective commitment to safeguarding Dubai’s narrative for the future.

In the previous year, the Erth Dubai initiative recorded over 14 million interactions and collected 25,238 submissions from various sectors, producing in excess of 16,000 documentation materials—rich archival content including rare images and historical documents.

Celebrated Award Recipients

The Grand Prize of AED 1 million was awarded to Nasser bin Ahmed bin Issa bin Nasser Al Serkal for his extraordinary contributions to the documentation of Dubai's history.

Other notable winners included:

• Ghith Mattar Sultan Al Qamzi – Best Family Heritage Documentation

• Ahmed Ayoub Mohammed Noor Abdul Karim – Best Oral Heritage Documentation

• Abdulrahim Mohammed Balghoz Al Zarouni – Best Creatively Documented Entry

• Mohammed Sultan bin Thani – Best Social Media Contribution

In the resident category, recognition was awarded to Shaukat Ali Rana Mohammed Rafi for his contributions reflecting the cultural diversity of Dubai.

Organizational Achievements:

• Dubai Electricity and Water Authority - Best Government Entity

• Uncle’s Shop - Best Private Sector Entity

• New Academy School - Best Educational Institution

Judging and Future Initiatives

A specialized jury, presided over by Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, evaluated the entries alongside heritage and archival experts.

Looking forward, the initiative aims to publish 100 books showcasing stories from Dubai’s residents, acting as essential resources for scholars and the public, further solidifying the city’s cultural identity.

The Erth Dubai initiative encourages everyone to share their narratives, ensuring the preservation of Dubai's heritage and community stories for future generations.