Dubai – 18 May 2026
Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, has launched the Museum of Digital Art (MODA), the region’s first museum dedicated to digital art and emerging technologies, marking a major addition to Dubai’s cultural landscape. Located within the Dubai International Financial Centre Zabeel District expansion, the project represents a significant step in strengthening Dubai’s museum sector and advancing its wider creative economy ambitions. She was accompanied by His Excellency Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC.
Speaking at the launch, Her Highness said the Museum of Digital Art reflects Dubai’s long-term vision of culture as a driver of innovation, knowledge, and human connection. She described the institution as a milestone in the evolution of the emirate’s cultural ecosystem, reinforcing Dubai’s commitment to fostering a future where creativity and technology come together to redefine artistic expression.
Her Highness noted that Dubai’s cultural journey has long been shaped by openness, ambition, and a belief in the transformative power of ideas. She added that the emirate continues to build on this legacy by developing institutions and platforms that empower artists, support emerging talent, and create new opportunities for cultural participation and exchange. In an increasingly digital world, she said museums must evolve beyond preserving heritage to reimagining how culture is experienced, accessed, and shared across generations and borders.
The launch coincides with the 20th edition of Art Dubai, underscoring the continued growth of Dubai’s arts sector and the emirate’s broader efforts to strengthen its position as a global hub for culture and creativity. Over the past two decades, Art Dubai has played a key role in expanding opportunities for artists, galleries, and cultural institutions across the UAE and the wider region.
Spanning five floors, MODA will serve as a future-focused cultural institution combining art, technology, and innovation through immersive exhibitions, interactive experiences, educational programmes, and research initiatives. DIFC will oversee the museum’s development, while Dubai Culture will lead its operations and strategic cultural direction to ensure alignment with Dubai’s long-term creative economy goals.
His Excellency Essa Kazim said DIFC has spent more than two decades helping shape Dubai’s reputation as a global centre for art and culture, creating a platform where creativity, commerce, and community intersect. He described the Museum of Digital Art as a natural evolution of DIFC’s artistic legacy and a reflection of its commitment to advancing Dubai’s cultural ambitions through innovative and globally relevant experiences.
Designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, MODA aims to create a dynamic environment for artists, researchers, and emerging talent from both local and international digital arts communities. The museum will feature permanent and temporary exhibitions, immersive installations, educational spaces, and interactive platforms that encourage experimentation, collaboration, and interdisciplinary exchange.
Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, said the museum reflects Dubai’s ability to anticipate shifts in the cultural sector and embrace new models that redefine how art is created and experienced. She added that the museum will provide a space where creativity and advanced technology converge, helping artists develop ideas, strengthen their presence in the cultural landscape, and contribute to the growth of the creative industries.
The Museum of Digital Art forms a central pillar of DIFC’s long-term arts strategy, which aims to shape Dubai’s cultural evolution over the next two decades through a unified vision for cultural programming. The strategy will bring together DIFC’s flagship initiatives including Sculpture Park, Art Nights, and Satellite Gallery under a year-round cultural calendar designed to strengthen the Centre’s identity as a leading cultural district.
His Excellency Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority and Chairman of Art Dubai, said the strategy builds on DIFC’s long-standing role as Dubai’s home for art and culture while ushering in a new cultural chapter anchored by the Museum of Digital Art within the DIFC Zabeel District expansion.
The museum will also introduce innovative concepts including a “digital twin” experience designed to expand global access and interaction. Alongside immersive cultural experiences, MODA will place strong emphasis on education and future talent development through dedicated learning spaces and specialised programmes.
Aligned with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy, the museum is expected to contribute to the continued growth and diversification of Dubai’s museum sector while reinforcing the emirate’s standing as a leading destination for cultural tourism, innovation, and creative investment.
