“Brand Dubai” and the “International Financial Center” present a huge creative work that celebrates the legacy of Zayed and Rashid

Within the framework of the “National Month in Dubai” activities launched by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Dubai Government Media Office, announced the launch of a huge creative work on the facade of the “Gate” building, the center’s main landmark, in celebration of the great national legacy of the late founding leaders Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, may God bless them both.

This work comes within the #Zayed and Rashid National Campaign organized by Brand Dubai for the second year in a row, within the framework of Dubai’s National Month celebrations extending from Flag Day to Union Day on December 2, to embody, through visual creativity, the story of the Union and the Emirati path of achievement.

On this occasion, Director of Brand Dubai, Shaima Al Suwaidi, said: “We are proud of our renewed partnership with the Dubai International Financial Center to implement this creative work that expresses the depth of our gratitude to the founding leaders Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid, may God have mercy on them, who together laid the foundations of the Union State,” expressing her thanks to the Emirati artist Ahmed Bafadl, who designed the work in a patriotic and creative spirit that expresses feelings of belonging and pride in the Emirati identity.

Al Suwaidi added: “This work carries a symbolic message about the strength of legacy and the extension of vision. It combines images of the founders, and symbols of the present and future in the fields of space and knowledge, to confirm that the renaissance that started from the will of Zayed and Rashid continues today in the spirit of wise leadership that follows their approach,” stressing that this cooperation reflects the vision of “Brand Dubai” in using the arts as an effective communication tool capable of conveying and embodying national and humanitarian meanings, to connect generations to their history, and to inspire society to continue the process of construction.

She pointed out that this artistic project is in line with Brand Dubai’s keenness to support Emirati artists and provide broader platforms for their work, highlighting their creativity to the public, and contributing to consolidating Dubai’s position as an incubator for local artistic talents and a thriving center for creativity and culture.

In turn, the Chief Operating Officer of the Dubai International Financial Center Authority, Alia Al Zarouni, said: “The Dubai International Financial Center is pleased to cooperate again with (Brand Dubai) to honor the legacy of the founding fathers.”

She added that the distinctive artwork that adorns the façade of the “Gateway” building embodies Dubai’s vision of blending originality and future ambitions, and confirms that economic leadership and global innovation stem from solid national roots, and hosting this creative work reflects the pivotal role that the center plays in achieving Dubai’s development vision, and embodies the spirit of leadership that does not know the impossible, to remain a source of inspiration for future generations.

In turn, Amina Taher, a member of the organizing committee for the Zayed and Rashid Campaign, said that this creative work embodies a living example of what creativity can provide when it is part of a national message that carries the values ​​of loyalty and belonging. It not only celebrates the two founding leaders, but rather expresses their continued profound influence in our present and future.

She added: “Today, after the great success achieved by the campaign in its first year, we see how Brand Dubai’s creative works – from murals to community events – have become living symbols that translate the spirit of union, and deepen the connection of new generations to the nation’s history and values. This is what distinguishes Dubai’s approach to celebrating its national occasions, as it combines art and identity, and between the past and the future.”

She said: “We at (Brand Dubai) believe that investing in creativity is an investment in people and in the future of this nation. Therefore, through the (Zayed and Rashid) campaign, we are keen to involve young national talents and enable them to present their creativity in the city’s spaces, so that works of art turn into living narrative platforms that tell the story of the Emirates to the world, and give future generations a sense of pride and responsibility towards their heritage and history.”

The creative work is considered one of the most prominent national projects in the season of national celebrations in Dubai, and its background is mixed with modern symbolic elements that include the Hope Probe and the Etihad Sat satellite, which achieved great global successes, the Rashid Rover 2, and the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center explorer among the upcoming future projects, all of which form a painting that expresses the continuity of the Emirati ambition from the beginning of the Union’s journey, all the way to space exploration, and a country that made creativity and innovation an extension of the first founding values.

The creative work rises 50 meters high on the “Gate” building in the Dubai International Financial Centre, one of Dubai’s most important achievements that embodies the great development that the UAE has witnessed as a major business center in the region that attracts the biggest international names in various fields.

It is noteworthy that the Emirati artist Ahmed Bafadl is an engineer and artist. He began his career in the arts by drawing with pencil and coffee, before discovering in digital art a new language of expression. Through his works, Ahmed conveys his feelings as he lives them with loving ambition, hoping to paint the image of his homeland in the most beautiful way, transforming his feelings into visual worlds that blend surrealism with reality.