Dubai’s connection to its past has always shaped how the city sees its future. Now, a new chapter is beginning with the launch of the Erth Dubai Award — a large-scale cultural initiative announced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The award is built around one simple idea: preserving the city’s memory through the people who have lived it.
The initiative invites citizens, long-time residents, and even new Dubai families to share personal stories, photographs, traditions, and memories that reflect the emirate’s cultural and social identity. With prizes collectively valued at AED 5 million, the award stands among the biggest heritage-focused competitions in the region.
For a city that has transformed rapidly over the past five decades — from a trading port to a global destination — this award gives everyday people a platform to document experiences that might otherwise fade with time. Whether it’s a family story from old Deira, memories of early business owners along the Creek, or tales of community life before the rise of the skyscrapers, the Erth Dubai Award aims to bring these narratives into one digital archive for future generations.
A New Cultural Movement for Dubai
The launch of the Erth Dubai Award comes at a time when the emirate is expanding its efforts to safeguard cultural identity. Dubai’s museums, heritage districts, and public art programmes have already been placing a strong focus on storytelling. But what makes this award different is its inclusivity. It opens the door for anyone — not just historians or experts — to contribute to the city’s collective memory.
The name “Erth” itself reflects the idea of legacy and inheritance. Dubai’s story has always been shaped by people from many backgrounds, and the award embraces that diversity. A resident who moved here 20 years ago may have memories just as meaningful as a family that has lived in the emirate for generations. The initiative brings all those perspectives into one shared space.
For communities, especially those in older neighbourhoods like Karama, Satwa, and Al Shindagha, this creates an opportunity to document memories that hold sentimental value. Many long-time residents often speak about life before Dubai became the bustling city it is today — quieter streets, neighbourhood gatherings, and small community-driven markets. Stories like these are exactly what the award hopes to preserve.
Categories Designed for Every Type of Storyteller
One of the strengths of the Erth Dubai Award is its variety of categories. These give participants flexibility depending on how they want to express their story.
Community categories include:
- Personal stories documenting family legacy
- Narratives capturing Dubai’s oral heritage
- Creative storytelling formats
- Stories shared through social media
- Personal experiences from residents who consider Dubai their home
There is also a dedicated category for government and private organisations, especially those working on projects linked to culture, research, and documentation.
This structure makes the award accessible. Whether someone writes a short narrative, records a story from an older family member, or submits a creative video shot on their phone, every format is welcome as long as it reflects Dubai’s cultural identity.
Prizes That Recognise the Value of Memory
The award’s prize pool — more than AED 5 million — reflects the scale of the initiative. It sends a clear message: personal stories matter.
A grand prize of AED 1 million will go to the overall winner, while several sub-category winners will each receive AED 500,000. Alongside the financial reward, winners will also have their stories featured in Dubai’s upcoming digital heritage archive, ensuring their narratives become part of the city’s permanent record.
For many families and individuals, this is not just a competition — it’s a chance to contribute to something far larger. It places their lived experiences alongside the historical milestones of the city.
Building a Digital Archive for Future Dubai
The long-term vision of the Erth Dubai Award is grounded in creating a central digital archive that captures the human side of Dubai’s growth. This archive will collect stories, photographs, audio interviews, documents, and creative submissions that showcase the emirate’s journey.
Years from now, students, researchers, artists, and the next generation of Dubai residents will be able to scroll through real stories told by real people. The archive will act as a time capsule — capturing the city’s transformation, its values, and the small everyday moments that shaped its identity.
This digital collection also supports internal linking for future pieces on topics like Dubai heritage sites, community culture, Old Dubai neighbourhoods, and social development projects, making it easier to connect relevant stories across the platform.
for residents of dubai
For residents, the award is an invitation to reconnect with their own experiences. Many people living in Dubai often pause and reflect on how fast the city changes — new roads, new communities, new landmarks. Submitting a story allows them to hold onto memories that shaped their journey here.
Families who have lived in Dubai for decades may share stories of daily life before global tourism arrived. Newer residents might speak about the mix of cultures that welcomed them. Entrepreneurs may document the early stages of setting up their first shop or café in Dubai.
No story is too small, and that is where the beauty of this award lies.
Deadline and How to Participate
Submissions are open until 15 January 2026, giving people ample time to craft their entries. Participants can submit through the award’s official digital platforms, choosing the category that best suits their story.
What matters most is authenticity — a story that feels real, personal, and connected to Dubai.
The Erth Dubai Award marks a significant moment in the emirate’s cultural movement. While Dubai continues to build its future with innovation and ambition, this initiative ensures that its past — and the people who lived it — are not forgotten.
It reminds everyone that history is not only found in museums or archives. It lives in memories, in family stories, in photographs tucked away in drawers, and in the voices of people who have walked through Dubai’s ever-changing streets.
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