Latifa bint Mohammed highlights art’s role as universal language at ISEA2026 Dubai

Dubai: The 31st International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art (ISEA2026 Dubai) opened the core sessions of its Online Academic Programme today, bringing together artists, researchers, innovators and specialists from around the world. Organised by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) in partnership with Zayed University under the theme ‘ELYAH: Constellating Place, Data, and Identity’, the symposium explores the intersection of art, science and technology and their role in expanding creative expression and promoting cultural dialogue and understanding. The event supports Dubai Culture’s efforts to advance the digital and emerging arts ecosystem, support creative talent and create opportunities for learning, research and experimentation. These efforts reinforce Dubai’s position as a global cultural reference, a leader in innovation, a driver of the creative economy and a city rooted in Emirati heritage. In her welcome address, Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, said: “Dubai’s hosting of ISEA2026 invites an international conversation about art and technology to a country where cultural ambition and future thinking are closely connected.” Sheikha Latifa added: “Every place becomes part of us through the people we meet, the stories we hear and the experiences we carry forward. Art gives us ways to explore those connections and share what they mean.” Her Highness welcomed the artists, creators, researchers, thinkers and students participating in the programme in person and online, highlighting the importance of bringing together diverse perspectives and experiences. She said the UAE views investment in culture as an investment in people’s creativity, potential and ability to shape a better future. Reflecting on the importance of cultural identity, Her Highness said: “Our heritage gives us a sense of continuity, while our openness to the world allows that heritage to inspire new forms of expression and understanding.” Her Highness added: “As technology expands what humanity can achieve, the choices we make will shape how our cultures are understood, whose voices are heard and what future generations come to value. For Dubai and the UAE, this places culture at the centre of our responsibility to the future, guiding progress with a clear sense of identity, purpose and care for humanity.” Addressing the implications of emerging technologies, Her Highness said: “Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are changing how we produce knowledge and encounter cultures, carrying implications for identity and how people see themselves represented in the world.” She added: “It is our responsibility to ensure that human dignity, cultural diversity, and creative freedom guide this transformation.” Her Highness continued: “We must equip future generations with the knowledge, access and creative confidence they need to shape their own future; and sustained investment in education, culture and talent is essential to that responsibility.” On cultural exchange, Her Highness said: “By bringing different experiences into dialogue, the UAE strengthens its relationships with the world, deepening mutual understanding and building bridges that reflect the richness of our societies.” Her Highness added: “Today's young people will inherit the cultural and technological choices we make; they deserve the opportunity to understand their roots, exercise their judgement and contribute their own ideas with confidence.” Concluding her address, Her Highness said: “As you begin your conversations, I invite you to consider what our decisions today will make possible for them. May the knowledge shared here help us build a future in which people feel connected to their heritage, open to one another and empowered to create.” In her opening address, Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, said: “For over three decades, ISEA has brought together people who see possibilities where others see boundaries. People who experiment with new tools, question familiar approaches and discover new forms of artistic expression.” Her Excellency said: “Under the theme 'ELYAH: Constellating Place, Data, and Identity,' ISEA2026 brings together an international community working at the intersection of art, science and technology.” She added: “More than 1,000 submissions to the Artistic and Academic Programme have contributed to a remarkable exchange of creative thinking, with over 100 artworks and installations selected to be presented across Dubai. Through immersive experiences, digital installations and experimental artistic practices, audiences will discover new ways of engaging with creativity.” On the academic programme, Badri said: “Meanwhile, the online Academic Programme will connect artists, academics and researchers across borders, creating space for critical enquiry, knowledge exchange and fresh perspectives.” Her Excellency highlighted th