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60 free workshops to be held at Sikka Art and Design Festival 2022
Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) prepared a variety of free interactive workshops for the 10th edition of Sikka Art and Design Festival 2022 that launched on March 15 and will continue until March 24. This year’s theme is ‘Celebrating Art, Celebrating Growth’. The authority is inviting adults and children to participate in these innovative workshops, providing them with an ideal opportunity to hone their skills and discover their creativity.
Over the course of 10 days, Sikka Art and Design Festival 2022 will include a programme of 60 workshops curated by Art Dubai, covering all artistic fields within three categories, visual art, design and new media, with the participation of local and international talents. Through these workshops, Dubai Culture seeks to meet the technical knowledge needs of aspiring young artists and contribute to discovering the talents of young citizens and residents of the UAE for their development.
It also seeks to highlight Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood as a cultural tourist destination and encourage tourists to visit it in line with the ‘Dubai Destinations – Dubai Art Season’ campaign launched under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Media Council.
The series of visual arts workshops include various types of artworks, most notably making models using cardboard, drawing, soap making, Islamic decorations, natural dyes, collage, pottery, origami, and colouring. The design workshops include drawing as well as digital and video collages, in addition to typographical methods, 3D digital design, animation, digital jewellery design and Arabic letter design.
The workshop programme also keeps pace with contemporary media techniques used in the design and production of artworks. It includes sessions on augmented reality in art, design in virtual reality, artistic NFTs, creative coding, Sisyphus robot shaping, video compositing, visual music creation, and interactive media software.
The festival will also host a set of workshops for children to help them explore the worlds of doll manufacturing, pottery, and the making of Emirati paper dolls, in addition to skills relating to designing and preserving animal shapes, making animals using origami, drawing and colouring, designing Arabic letter stickers, designing and building robots, and drawing in virtual reality.
This year’s programme also includes a series of workshops organised by Dubai Culture in cooperation with its partners LinkedIn and Zoho to support creative entrepreneurs in the emirate and help them understand and develop the skills necessary to launch and manage their businesses, within the framework of the creatives’ journey launched by the Authority in cooperation with the Department of Economy and Tourism to facilitate the establishment of creative businesses.
LinkedIn is also presenting two workshops on the importance of LinkedIn for independent creative freelancers and the e-learning initiative launched by Dubai Culture in partnership with LinkedIn to empower creative businesses with the skills necessary for their businesses to thrive.
The UAE-Oman railway project, officially known as Hafeet Rail, has reached 40 % completion, marking a major milestone in one of the region’s most ambitious transport initiatives.
Once operational, the cross-border rail line will connect Abu Dhabi with Sohar in just 1 hour and 40 minutes, while journeys from Al Ain to Sohar will take only 47 minutes.
First modern cross-border train in the region
Announced in 2023, the project is a joint venture between Oman Rail, Etihad Rail, and Mubadala.
Spanning 303km, the railway will be the first modern cross-border train in the Arab world, carrying both passengers and cargo between the UAE and Oman.
Route and speed
The line will run from the UAE’s existing rail network in Al Wathba to Sohar’s port, passing through varied terrain including deserts, valleys, and mountains alongside Jebel Hafeet.
- Train speed: up to 200 km/h
- Route length (main section): approx. 238km
- Travel time: significantly reduced between key cities
Major engineering works
The project includes:
- 2,500m of tunnels through mountainous terrain
- 21 overbridges and 39 underpasses
- Viaducts and bridges to ensure smooth, uninterrupted rail flow
These features will help maintain efficient travel across challenging landscapes.
Freight services between nations
Beyond passenger travel, Hafeet Rail is expected to create an integrated logistics network, strengthening trade and economic ties between the UAE and Oman. Freight locomotives will be used to power cargo services across the network, helping to strengthen regional logistics, trade flows, and supply chain efficiency between the two Gulf countries.
The project is valued at around $3 billion and is expected to play a major role in enhancing connectivity and economic integration across the region.
While construction is progressing across multiple locations, no official completion date has yet been announced.
His Highness Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has announced the launch of the Dubai Metro Gold Line, a major new infrastructure project set to expand the emirate’s transport network.
The 24-kilometre line, with an estimated cost of Dh 34 billion, will pass through 15 key strategic areas, serving around 1.5 million residents and connecting to 55 major real estate developments currently under construction.
Key route and connectivity
The new line will run from Al Ghubaiba in the north to Jumeirah Golf Estates, linking historic and emerging parts of the city.
- Total stations: 18
- Fully underground line
- Intersections with existing Red and Green Metro Lines
- Integration with Etihad Rail passenger stations in Meydan and Jumeirah Golf Estates
Boost to metro network
The Gold Line will increase the Dubai Metro’s overall length by 25%, significantly improving connectivity across the city.
The project is scheduled for completion on September 9, 2032.
Sheikh Mohammed said the project is part of Dubai’s ongoing ambition to become the world’s best city to live in, with continued investment in infrastructure and mobility.
The new line is expected to play a key role in reducing congestion, improving travel times, and supporting urban growth across Dubai.
Inside the UAE-Oman Hafeet Rail project now 40% complete
New Dubai Metro Gold Line to expand network by 25%
