Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated entity for culture, arts and heritage, hosted a design talk and workshop on the historic findings of Saruq Al-Hadid on the final day of ‘Dubai Next’, which took place in London from 18th to 20th September as part of the London Design Festival and in support of the 2017 UK/UAE Year of Creative Collaboration. 

The talk and workshop were organised in partnership with Dubai Municipality, and aimed to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global design hub by shedding light on the Emirate’s 4,000-year creative history. 

The day kicked off with a talk from a Dubai Municipality representative exploring the background, historical context and key design findings made at Saruq Al-Hadid, which is one of the largest and most important Iron Age sites in the Arabian Peninsula. This was followed by an ‘Inspirations from Saruq Al-Hadid’ workshop hosted by Emirati designer and entrepreneur Nadia Al Zarouni, focused on applying the precision, patterns and manufacturing processes of the Saruq Al-Hadid findings to modern day fashion, jewellery and clothing design. Both events were open to the public and took place at Southbank Centre, London.

By exploring the spectacular archaeological findings of Saruq Al-Hadid from a design perspective, Dubai Culture aims to highlight the manufacturing precision, draw attention to Dubai’s ancient design history, and tell the story of the past and link it with the present and future of design. Saruq Al-Hadid has profoundly broadened knowledge of the Iron Age in the Arabian Peninsula, and by sharing this story with a UK audience Dubai Culture aims to strengthen cultural dialogue and understanding between our two countries in an enriching conclusion to the 2017 UK/UAE Year of Creative Collaboration. 

Saruq Al-Hadid is a remote desert site that was a centre for metalworking some three thousand years ago. It has yielded thousands of artefacts that reveal the artistry of Iron Age metalworkers and provide important insights into the industrial activity, trade, and everyday life of this fascinating period of history. Excavation is still underway and the public can enjoy the story unfolding at the Saruq Al-Hadid museum, which contains a beautiful array of artefacts and is housed in a historic building in the Shindagha Heritage District of Dubai. 

‘Dubai Next’, the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority’s international platform for showcasing the Emirate’s creative and cultural sector abroad, was launched in 2008 and is now into its sixth successful edition, featuring a rich programme of panel discussions, workshops and networking events that enhance Dubai’s strong reputation on the world’s cultural stage. The event supports the UAE Soft Power strategy and the Dubai Plan 2021 by further embedding Dubai’s credentials as a city of happy, creative and empowered people who proudly celebrate their cultural identities.

By launching ongoing global cultural initiatives like ‘Dubai Next’, Dubai Culture aims to share Dubai’s cultural scene with the world and draw attention to the Emirate’s rich heritage throughout the year. The Authority’s mandate is to build bridges of constructive dialogue between different civilisations and cultures through enriching initiatives that benefit the Emirate’s citizens, residents and visitors.