Painting by Canadian artist Maggie Hall
May 11, 2026, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE): Canadian University Dubai (CUD) recently hosted The Future of Creative Industries, a global online event bringing together leading creatives, entrepreneurs, artists, and industry experts to explore the evolving relationship between creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation. Organized by Creative Industries students as part of their CRI 461 Big Night Project, the initiative reflected CUD’s continued commitment to future-focused education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and industry engagement.
The event welcomed attendees from across the CUD community, industry, and prospective student audiences, positioning the university at the forefront of emerging conversations shaping the future of the creative economy. The event also coincided with the recent Dubai Culture and Arts Authority announcement of AED 1 billion investment supporting the future growth and resilience of Dubai’s creative sector.
Developed under the guidance of Dr. Lauren Khan and Ms. Chloe Bennett, Head of Department, BA in Creative Industries program at CUD’s School of Creative Industries, the event provided students with a valuable opportunity to apply project management, event design, communication, and industry engagement skills within a real-world professional environment.
The event opened with an address by Professor Karim Chelli, President and Vice-Chancellor of Canadian University Dubai, who highlighted the transformative role creativity continues to play across education, culture, business, and innovation.
Professor Karim Chelli emphasized the role of creative industries in driving collaboration and global connection across cultures and disciplines.
“Creativity has always been the engine of tomorrow's economy and what I will call the soul of avant-gardism in education, where what was deemed impossible is turned into our lived realities. It is a space where students from different horizons can connect, and where professionals, people, and cultures from around the world collaborate for a better tomorrow.”
The event featured an international lineup of speakers spanning entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, music, film, media, and the arts. Speakers included Shamma Hamdan, CUD alumna and Emirati artist, songwriter, and composer; Dr. Najla Al Futaisi, Assistant Professor of Artificial Intelligence at CUD, Monique Barrie, Director and Philanthropist at LHI Productions; Khulood Al Abdullah, Founder of Le Voyage Beauty & Spa; Ryan Green, President of Masters Gallery Ltd.; Michael Peterson, award-winning producer, writer, and director; Nada Al Barazi; and Fiza Natoo, CUD alumna.
A major highlight of the event was the participation of Shamma Hamdan, who is recognized as the first Emirati woman to reach the finals of Arabs Got Talent. Sharing reflections on resilience, perseverance, and professional growth, Shamma encouraged aspiring creatives to remain committed to their ambitions despite challenges.
“It wasn't always easy, just to let you know that. But I was fortunate to have people who supported me along the way, especially my family, my team, the people around me.”
Throughout the event, discussions explored the growing influence of artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, digital storytelling, creative leadership, and the evolving intersection between technology and artistic practice. Speaking on the transformative impact of AI, Dr. Najla Al Futaisi reflected on the growing integration of artificial intelligence across industries and society.
“Artificial intelligence is kind of like electricity. It changed how we operate in so many ways, and it helped us have a different type of world.”
The event also reinforced CUD’s Canadian identity and international outlook through contributions from Ryan Green, an established figure within the Western Canadian art world with extensive international experience. During his session, Ryan Green shared insights into the evolution of the Canadian art market, the growing impact of AI on the arts sector, and his involvement in international exhibitions, including this year’s Venice Biennale.
In addition to the speaker sessions, attendees participated in interactive workshops focused on artistic identity, professional development, and brand storytelling through social media, before concluding the event with a networking mixer connecting students directly with industry professionals and creative leaders.
The online event achieved strong engagement throughout the afternoon, opening with 79 attendees and reaching a peak audience of 110 participants before transitioning into breakout networking sessions. Attendee feedback described the event as “diverse,” “inspiring,” and “beyond expectations,” reflecting the strong impact of the initiative across participants and guest audiences alike.
Reflecting on the wider significance of the initiative, Ms. Chloe Bennett highlighted the importance of preparing students to navigate an evolving creative economy, particularly as Dubai continues to invest heavily in its cultural and creative sectors through initiatives such as the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy.
Recent developments across Dubai’s creative sector further reinforce the growing opportunities available to future creative professionals. This includes the launch of Dubai’s AED 1 billion Creative Sector Resilience Portfolio, introduced to support artists, cultural institutions, entrepreneurs, and creative businesses through funding opportunities, training initiatives, workspaces, exhibitions, and wider public visibility. The initiative reflects Dubai’s continued investment in positioning the emirate as a global hub for creativity, innovation, and cultural entrepreneurship, creating significant opportunities for students entering the creative industries.
By combining student-led innovation, international industry expertise, and interdisciplinary dialogue, The Future of Creative Industries further reinforced Canadian University Dubai’s commitment to developing future-ready graduates equipped to lead across the next generation of creative, cultural, and digital industries.