Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has secured two Gold Awards at the 2026 MENA MIKE Awards. The Authority received the MENA MIKE Gold Award 2026, recognising its organisation-wide excellence in knowledge management, innovation, organisational learning, employee empowerment, stakeholder collaboration and value creation. It also received the MENA Technology & Digital Excellence Gold Award 2026, recognising the Information Technology Department’s achievements in leveraging technology, artificial intelligence, digital platforms and advanced governance to enhance services, efficiency, resilience and stakeholder value.
This dual achievement reflects Dubai Culture’s success in building an integrated institutional ecosystem that brings together knowledge, innovation, organisational learning and digital transformation, while investing in employee capabilities and strengthening stakeholder collaboration. This approach enhances the Authority’s ability to leverage emerging technologies and develop practical solutions that deliver measurable cultural, operational and community outcomes while improving customer experiences.
Dubai Culture earned this recognition by embedding a culture of knowledge and innovation across the organisation and adopting integrated governance frameworks that turn ideas into practices and projects with measurable impact. Central to this approach is the Authority’s Innovation Management System (IMS), which encourages employees to share ideas and apply their expertise and knowledge to improve the organisation. More than 580 ideas have been submitted through the system, alongside the Authority’s ongoing efforts to strengthen organisational learning, knowledge exchange and effective partnerships.
These efforts complement Dubai Culture’s digital transformation journey, led by the Information Technology Department through the adoption of advanced solutions and technologies to enhance performance efficiency, strengthen operational resilience and facilitate access to services. The Authority’s Digital Transformation Platform (DTP) has enabled 100% automation of targeted internal operations, reduced processing time by 58%, eliminated more than 227,000 hours of manual work annually, and generated approximately AED 16 million in estimated annual financial and productivity value. User satisfaction also increased from 83% in 2022 to 96% in 2025.
Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, affirmed that the two awards reflect the Authority’s integrated approach to knowledge, innovation and digital transformation, and its commitment to harnessing these enablers to create sustainable value and meaningful impact. She said: “This achievement recognises the integrated ecosystem we have built, where knowledge, innovation and technology come together to enhance efficiency, strengthen our future readiness and enrich the services and cultural experiences we offer. We see technology and innovation as powerful enablers that support informed decision-making, empower talent, broaden access to culture, safeguard our heritage and deepen culture’s contribution to society.”
Badri credited the achievement to Dubai Culture’s teams and partners, whose expertise, knowledge and creativity continue to advance the Authority’s institutional capabilities and performance. She added: “We will continue investing in knowledge, advanced technologies and the capabilities of our people, creating new opportunities for them to grow, innovate and contribute. Through these efforts, we aim to advance our strategic priorities and strengthen Dubai’s position as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity and a thriving hub for talent, while ensuring that progress remains firmly rooted in Emirati identity and heritage.”
The Information Technology Department’s achievement of the MENA Technology & Digital Excellence Gold Award 2026 underscores its role as a strategic partner in Dubai Culture’s institutional development journey. The Department drives digital transformation, strengthens cybersecurity and operational continuity, implements artificial intelligence and automation solutions, expands digital access to services, supports data-driven decision-making, and develops secure, scalable digital solutions that meet organisational needs. AI SHIELD has also reinforced the secure and responsible adoption of technology across the Authority, contributing to a 100% Dubai Cyber Security Index score in 2025, a 97% improvement in threat-response time, and zero successful cybersecurity breaches since its deployment.
These results demonstrate the effectiveness of Dubai Culture’s approach to measuring the success of innovation and technology through their impact on customer experiences, employee capabilities, time and resource savings, service continuity and heritage protection, contributing to sustainable cultural, social and economic value.
Eng. Grace Al Najjar, Chair of the MENA MIKE Award, said: “Dubai Culture’s recognition is a testament to its commitment to innovation and excellence and to the way it activates its Human, Structural and Relational Capital to transform knowledge into innovation and measurable value. What makes this achievement particularly meaningful is that this value reaches beyond institutional performance to the very heart of culture, heritage and human connection building bridges between people and cultures while strengthening Dubai’s position as a global cultural reference, a leader in innovation, a driver of the creative economy, and rooted in Emirati heritage. The second recognition in Technology & Digital Excellence further demonstrates how Dubai Culture is bringing together people, knowledge, technology and AI to enhance efficiency, resilience and decision-making. Together, these achievements reflect an integrated approach where knowledge, culture and technology come together to create sustainable institutional, cultural and societal impact.”
The MENA MIKE Award is one of the leading global awards specialising in knowledge management and innovation. Its assessment draws on the expertise of international specialists and experts, with leading organisations and institutions worldwide competing for recognition.
30.09.2026 Stockholm
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