Interview by Milo Radonjić

In this intimate conversation, Hoor Al Khaja, Senior Vice President of International Operations at the Dubai Corporation for tourism and Commerce Marketing, shares the Dubai she holds closest to her heart – from the alleyways of Al Fahidi and family breakfasts in Bur Dubai to late-night conversations at home and the creative communities shaping the city’s future. Reflecting on culture, belonging, and the warmth that defines everyday life in Dubai, she reveals a side of the city built not only through ambition, but through people, memory and connection. “What makes Dubai special is that everyone somehow finds the corner where they feel they belong.”

How can Dubai preserve its cultural authenticity while accommodating growth? What role do Emirati women play in shaping the city’s cultural landscape?

For me, preserving cultural authenticity has never meant resisting change. It means ensuring Emirati voices, traditions and values continue shaping the city as it evolves. What makes Dubai special is that heritage and progress exist together naturally.

Spaces like Al Fahidi and Al Shindagha remain meaningful because they are lived and experienced rather than simply preserved. Emirati women are playing a central role in that evolution. Across fashion, design, film, hospitality and the wider creative industries, they are shaping a cultural landscape that feels confident, contemporary, and deeply rooted at the same time. There’s also a younger generation of Emirati women building businesses, creative platforms, and community spaces that feel incredibly personal and authentic to who we are becoming as a society.

How has living in Dubai shaped the way you connect with people from different cultures, and what has that taught you about community?

Living in Dubai has taught me that community is something actively built through openness, participation, and shared experiences. It’s not defined by similarity, but by contribution and belonging. Working with people from nearly 200 nationalities has taught me the importance of listening, cultural understanding, and seeing the world through different perspectives. It has also shown me how much people genuinely want to connect when they feel welcomed and understood.

What moves me most is the long-term commitment people continue to show towards Dubai. Even during uncertain times, people still choose to invest, create, build families, and contribute here, because they believe in the city and in what it represents.

Ultimately, that’s what makes Dubai so special to me – it’s a city built not only through ambition and growth, but through people, warmth, and an enduring sense of possibility.

Which initiatives or creative movements best capture Dubai’s resilience and evolving cultural identity?

Dubai’s resilience is most visible in the way its creative communities continue to grow and evolve through every challenge. Alserkal Avenue is a perfect example. What began as industrial warehouses has become one of the city’s most important creative ecosystems, driven by a genuine passion for arts and culture.

I’m also excited to see younger Emiratis increasingly shaping the cultural conversation through design, film, music, and entrepreneurship while reinterpreting heritage in contemporary ways. That evolution feels very authentic to Dubai itself, rooted in identity while always open to the future.

At the same time, we’re seeing more independent cafés, restaurants, and creative businesses launched by local entrepreneurs. These spaces feel deeply personal and have become important gathering places for the community. What inspires me most is that people here genuinely believe in contributing to something bigger than themselves.

When hosting someone you deeply admire, where do you take them to reveal the Dubai closest to your heart?

I usually try to keep things very personal and relaxed. More than anything, I love bringing people into my home, gathering friends around tea, food, and long conversations. That warmth and openness reflect the spirit of Dubai to me more than anything else. Beyond that, I’d probably choose a few meaningful moments rather than a packed itinerary – a walk along Kite Beach at sunset, a drive to Hatta, or sitting outdoors under the stars often reveals a quieter and more personal side of Dubai that many people don’t expect. Food is always part of that experience too.

I love taking people to places like Kinoya or Trèsind Studio alongside smaller independent concepts, because Dubai’s dining scene reflects the city itself – layered, multicultural, and deeply personal.

Which lesser-known neighbourhoods or creative districts do you return to when seeking the cultural pulse of Dubai? And what do these spaces reveal about the city that even long-time residents might overlook?

Dubai’s cultural pulse is often found in the neighbourhoods where everyday life naturally unfolds. For me, that has always been places like Karama, Mina Bazaar, and Satwa. I grew up spending time there with my family, and despite how much the city has evolved, we still return to them regularly. They remind me that Dubai’s identity has always been shaped by people from many cultures living side by side. Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood is another place I deeply love. Walking through the alleyways, taking an abra across the Creek, or simply wandering through the souks always reconnects me to an older rhythm of the city.

What I love most is that heritage there never feels frozen in time. The galleries, cafés and restored homes keep the area alive while preserving its history. I also love how Dubai creates space for contemporary creativity alongside heritage. Alserkal Avenue is somewhere I genuinely enjoy spending time to unwind, whether that’s watching a film at Cinema Akil or walking through the galleries. It reflects a very personal, community-driven side of Dubai that people don’t always expect.

If you were to design a perfect day exploring Dubai’s creative and leisure landscape, where would you take us beyond the iconic landmarks?

For me, the perfect day in Dubai starts early with family breakfast in Bur Dubai over karak and dosa, somewhere simple and familiar like Arabian Tea House or Sangeetha. From there, I’d probably head somewhere calm like Jameel Arts Centre, where you can enjoy the exhibitions but also simply sit by the waterfront and slow down a little.

The rest of the day would naturally revolve around family, whether that’s time outdoors at Kite Beach or somewhere playful with the children. Lunch would be somewhere relaxed and homegrown like 3Fils or Bait Maryam, places that feel authentic to Dubai because they’re driven by people and stories rather than trends.

Later in the afternoon, I’d stop at a neighbourhood café like To the Moon and Back in Jumeirah. I’ve always loved its warmth and sense of community. It’s one of those places where you naturally run into friends and family and end up staying much longer than planned. Honestly, though, my favourite part of Dubai is often the simplest one, ending the day at home with close friends, food, laughter and long conversations.

What lesser-known experiences best reflect the city’s personal and human side?

The most authentic side of Dubai exists in the spaces created organically by its communities. Sikka Art and Design Festival is a beautiful example because it transforms Al Fahidi into something incredibly alive and intimate, where artists, families and creatives naturally come together.

Alserkal’s gallery evenings have a similar energy. They feel less like formal art events and more like genuine cultural exchanges where conversations happen naturally across backgrounds and generations.

I also love the quieter spaces that reveal Dubai’s diversity in a more personal way – independent bookshops hosting poetry nights, local markets supporting small businesses, intimate music gatherings at The Fridge, or workshops where traditional crafts are passed between generations. What makes Dubai special is that everyone somehow finds the corner where they feel they belong.