+ 971

The first book of its kind to profile the Emirati creative scene, introducing fifty individuals working across architecture, culinary arts, design, film, performing and visual arts, music, and writing in the United Arab Emirates.

Since its founding in 1971, the United Arab Emirates has drawn upon values deeply rooted in generations of cultural history, while also fostering a purposeful evolution toward a bright and impressive future. Drawing inspiration from these efforts, and embodying its best hopes, is a cultural sector that is a thriving industry in its own right.

Who are the talented creatives extending this already-impressive legacy? What inspires them, which questions occupy them, and how do they operate in their community while also making waves on a global scale? +971 explores the work and personalities of fifty Emiratis who take the creative pulse of the young nation and articulate its aspirations through visual art, architecture and design, culinary arts, film, music, performing arts, writing, and literature. They hail from the seven emirates that compose the UAE—among them the commercial metropolis of Dubai, which houses the nation’s galleries, auction houses, and art fairs, as well as the institution-building emirates of Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, home to world-class museums, nonprofit organizations, and foundations. This remarkable publication celebrates the talent and innovation that illuminate contemporary Emirati culture in all its creativity.

Myrna Ayad is a writer and editor whose work for over two decades has focused on visual art and culture from the Arab world and Iran. Based in Dubai, she also works as an independent cultural strategist for projects within the luxury sector, government entities, private companies, and nonprofit organizations.