ABOUT SIKKA 2025
Sikka is an initiative launched by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority in 2011, aimed at giving emerging creative talent a platform to showcase their work for a duration of 10 days. The festival is held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, It is a flagship event under the umbrella of Dubai Art Season. The festival will feature a series of unique creative events, activities, and will showcase artworks of Emirati talents and artists residing in the UAE and GCC.
SIKKA ART AND DESIGN FESTIVAL 2025 – 13th EDITION
The Sikka Art and Design Festival, held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, is one of the key components of Dubai's creative scene and falls under the umbrella of the Dubai Art Season. The festival aims to provide an innovative platform that brings together various art forms while celebrating Emirati and UAE & GCC-based emerging talent, artists and designers. Through this festival, Dubai Culture seeks to strengthen Dubai’s cultural and creative industries and create a sustainable, supportive ecosystem that enriches the local art scene. This reflects Dubai’s cultural vision of being a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent.
The 13th edition of the festival will take place from January 31 to February 9, 2025 in Al Shindagha Historic District under the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy. The festival offers the public a diverse array of artworks created by Emirati and UAE & GCC-based artists. It also features various workshops and discussions across the cultural and creative industries, public art installations, live performances, homegrown F&B concepts and other activities, all set in an inspiring atmosphere that showcases Dubai's creative capabilities.
SIKKA 25 HIGHLIGHTS
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300+ Talks & Workshops
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100+ Live performances
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13 Theatre Performances
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50+ Homegrown F&B concepts
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30+ Public Art installations
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19 Themed Houses
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14 Activated courtyards
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13 Murals
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9 Supper Clubs / 9 Chefs
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2 Outdoor Stages
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6 Orchestra Performances
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3 Houses, 2 Courtyards and 1 bespoke structure for Talent Development
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1 Dedicated space for the people of determination
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3 International Participations
NOT TO MISS:
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The largest Public Arts and Urban art showcase in the history of Sikka
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Water activations: Daily Sail Exhibition featuring 6 Emirati and UAE Based artists
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More than 40 public art and installations inside the houses, outside and in the Creek
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Creatives on Wheels “Mubdi’oon ‘ala ‘ajal” is a vibrant theatrical journey led by a Hakawati (storyteller), interwoven with Khayal Al-Zhil (shadow play) and the soulful melodies of a Oud player (Daily Performances)
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Merin (Public Art Structure hosting 10 days of programming on Architecture)
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Karim Jabbari Light Photography: Saturday 1 February 2025
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World Stage Design House featuring daily specialised theatre workshops and performances
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3 Houses, 1 showcase structure and 3 courtyards for talent development
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House Of Saffron: For the first time, the Culinary House is curated based on one ingredient “Saffron” hosting a series of supper clubs from 31 January – 8 February
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Over 50 Food Vendors to experience!
Visit our Social Platforms: @sikkaplatform
YOUR GUIDE TO SIKKA 25 DATES: 31 JANUARY – 9 FEBRUARY 2025
TIMINGS:
Date & Time | Register | Daily Programme |
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Day 1: Friday 31st January 2025 | 4PM - 12AM Day 2: Saturday 1st February 2025 | 4PM - 12AM Day 3: Sunday 2nd February 2025 | 4PM - 11PM |
Register | Daily Programme |
Day 4: Monday 3rd February 2025 | 4PM - 11PM Day 5: Tuesday 4th February 2025 | 4PM - 11PM Day 6: Wednesday 5th February 2025 | 4PM - 11PM Day 7: Thursday 6th February 2025 | 4PM - 11PM |
Register | Daily Programme |
Day 8: Friday 7th February 2025 | 4PM - 12AM Day 9: Saturday 8th February 2025 | 4PM - 12AM Day 10: Sunday 9th February 2025 | 4PM - 12AM |
Register |
HOW TO REACH SIKKA
- BY TAXI: Hala Taxi 50% Discount code: SIKKA50
50% off 4 trips Promo T(Terms & conditions Applies)
Valid only on Hala car types on the Careem app
Max discount will be AED 15 per trip
Promo is valid from 30 Jan - 9 Feb 2025
Valid on first trips
- BY METRO: Al Ghubaiba Metro Station will lead you straight to Registration Area 1
- BY BUS: Al Ghubaiba Bus Station will lead you to Registration Area 1
- BY ABRA: From AL Fahidi to AL Ghubaiba
Daily: From 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm / Approximately every 30 mins
MARINA ROUTE 1 :
- From Dubai Canal to Al Ghubaiba
- 2:25pm & 7:25pm only 2 trips per day
- From Al Ghubaiba to Dubai Canal
- Every Day 02:25pm and 07:25pm
MARINA ROUTE 2 :
- From Sharjah Aquarium to Al Ghubaiba
- Monday - Thursday: 07:00am, 08:30am, 04:45pm & 06:15pm
- Friday - Sunday: 2:00pm, 04:00pm & 06:00pm
- From Al Ghubaiba to Sharjah Aquarium:
- Monday - Thursday: 07:45am, 04:00pm, 05:30pm & 07:00pm
- Friday - Sunday : 3:00pm, 05:00pm & 08:00pm
There are very limited paid parking zones across the street from the entrance of Al Shindagha. We highly encourage visitors to park in the Al Ghubaiba RTA Multilevel Parking situated 8 minutes walk to Sikka Entrances.
Possible parking spaces : Limited paid RTA Parking
Parking 1 - city center al shindaga
GOOGLE PINHouse 164
This exhibition explores design as a living process, as an evolving practice, focusing on the unfinished and sometimes uncertain. Visitors engage with sensory experiences, exploring the interplay between materiality and culture through diverse design disciplines—architecture, graphic design, photography, and interdisciplinary practices—that challenge conventional narratives. Rather than presenting design as a static and finished object, the exhibition frames it as a dynamic, continuous practice—a profoundly human act: imperfect, open, and always in motion.
House 196
The Urban House by The Workshop Dxb transforms into a dynamic canvas hosting The Anatomy of Vulnerability, a multidisciplinary art project exploring human emotions. Through immersive installations by diverse artists, it invites audiences to navigate raw feelings and personal journeys. The house’s history and community voices shape a profound narrative of fragility and resilience.
House 200
Exploring nostalgia and revisiting the past is a central theme that is highlighted within this house. Whether through the lens of cultural elements like handicrafts, childhood memories, or the wisdom of older generations, this exploration reflects a deep urge to connect with a time that can no longer be reached, a longing that shapes the creative practices of many artists in the region today. The showcase seeks to uncover the roots of this preoccupation by presenting fragments and attempts to preserve these fleeting experiences. Visitors are invited to reflect on their own memories; ones held onto tightly yet inevitably allowed to slip away. What would today’s creative practices look like if the past were entirely out of reach?
House 206
This journey you are about to embark on takes you through the metaphysical spaces within us all—whether mental, emotional, or beyond. While physical space shapes our reality, our experience of it is deeply intertwined with the inner landscapes we carry, which in turn guide how we navigate the world. The selected artworks draw on elements of our physical reality to explore both conscious and subconscious realms, delving into the vast possibilities and inherent boundaries of each dimension. As you step into this space, you are invited to reflect on the parallels between the external environment you are about to encounter and the internal landscapes that reside within you.
House 341
“Bridging Realities” is an exploration of the interplay between tradition and innovation, where the echoes of heritage meet the rhythms of the future. This exhibition reimagines cultural narratives through the lens of technology, weaving together the past and the present to shape visions of tomorrow. Through interactive installations, generative art, and digital forms, the artworks on display serve as portals—inviting viewers to reflect on the evolution of identity, memory, and design in an age of rapid transformation. From ancestral patterns reinterpreted through algorithms to kinetic sculptures that respond to human touch, “Bridging Realities” celebrates the fluid dialogue between history and progress. At its core, this exhibition highlights the power of technology as both a preserver and disruptor—transforming timeless traditions into dynamic expressions of contemporary culture. It asks us to consider how art and innovation can connect us across time, redefining our relationship with heritage in a world driven by constant change. “Bridging Realities” is not just an exhibition; it is a space for contemplation, conversation, and connection—an invitation to journey between what was, what is, and what could be.
House 348
House 349
This exhibition delves into the intersection of digital and physical realms, showcasing how their integration redefines artistic expression and expands creative possibilities. Through innovative works, visitors are invited to explore the future shaped by technology and the role of artists in imagining it. The exhibition reflects the beauty and challenges of the real world, using technology to capture and reinterpret life’s complexities. Engaging and immersive, it offers hands-on experiences for all ages, blending interaction and innovation to inspire new ways of perceiving art and the world around us.
House 353
Step into the world of “A7lam Al3a9r”, where the boundaries between reality and imagination dissolve. A fever dream that twists the familiar into the unexpected, where nothing is quite as it seems. Inspired by the Khaleeji pop culture term A7lam Al3a9r, this house pulls you through the different stages of a dream, with each room distorting everyday elements into something surreal. As you move through these dreamscapes, the exhibition encourages exploration, invites interaction, and lets you experience Khaleeji traditions unfold in new and unexpected ways.
House 357
This year, Studio Thirteen’s participation in Sikka Art & Design Festival centers around the theme of "Community", celebrating the power of collaboration within a creative collective. The artists who participated last year have expanded their presence, carving out their own creative spaces, while the new studio artists step in to continue the legacy. Together, they highlight what can be achieved when creatives choose to collaborate rather than compete—demonstrating how shared visions and diverse talents can create something truly impactful.
House 416
The House of Saffron celebrates the luxurious ingredient central to Emirati cuisine, recognized for its quality, color, aroma, and flavor. It is often used in celebrations, defining abundance and joy. This edition blends culinary innovation, visual arts, and design to explore saffron’s role in food, storytelling, and culture, elevating the dining experience and informing warmth.
House 436
The journey ahead examines the give-and-take relationships humans have with the environments they create. It reflects on how human-made spaces offer shelter, functionality, and comfort, while also questioning what these constructed environments receive in return. Transactional dynamics are fundamental to any human society, and the very space you stand in today is a testament to this exchange. Al Shindagha, once the bustling heart of Dubai’s trade, served as a vital artery in the region’s trade routes—a place where exchanges of goods, ideas, and culture shaped its identity. Through this showcase, artists explore their own environments and the transactions that unfold within them, uncovering the cycles of give and take and the traces left behind in the process. The viewer is invited to consider their own interactions with the spaces they inhabit, reflecting on the exchanges that shape both their environments and themselves.
Date & Time | Chef Name | Tickets |
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Friday 31st January 2025 | 7:30PM - 10PM | Chef Maitha | Buy Ticket |
Saturday 1st February 2025 | 7:30PM - 10PM | Chef Yax | Buy Ticket |
Sunday 2nd February 2025 | 7:30PM - 10PM | Chef Arwa | Buy Ticket |
Monday 3rd February 2025 | 7:30PM - 10PM | Chef Kuv | Buy Ticket |
Tuesday 4th February 2025 | 7:30PM - 10PM | Chef Halima | Buy Ticket |
Wednesday 5th February 2025 | 7:30PM - 10PM | Chef Halawa | Buy Ticket |
Thursday 6th February 2025 | 7:30PM - 10PM | Chef AJ | Buy Ticket |
Friday 7th February 2025 | 7:30PM - 10PM | Chef Muna | Buy Ticket |
Saturday 8th February 2025 | 7:30PM - 10PM | Chef Amna | Buy Ticket |