A community is more than just a place on a map; it is a shared space of cultural life, public infrastructure, and collective action. This discussion investigates the rapid evolution of cities and communities in the region, focusing on how design, infrastructure, and grassroots initiatives intersect to create resilient, vibrant, and culturally rich urban environments.

The panelists—leaders in urban planning, cultural policy, and social entrepreneurship—will explore essential questions: What makes a city truly livable? How do cultural hubs and public spaces foster genuine community? From large-scale architectural visions to small-scale cultural enterprises, this conversation will reveal how localized efforts are shaping the next wave of sustainable and inclusive urbanism.

Panelists:

Dr. Alamira Reem Al Hashimi | General Manager of Madar_39

Khulood Alatiyat | Deputy General Manager at MIZA Abu Dhabi

Reem Ghaith Fadda | Director of Cultural Foundation and Director of Culture Programming at DCT Abu Dhabi

Adina Hempel | Director of Zayed Institute for Architecture, Heritage, and Arts

Moderator:

Dr. Pradeep Sharma | Director of the Arts, Culture and Heritage program at the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation

Language: English with Arabic support available. 

Panelists:

Dr. Alamira Reem Al Hashimi is the General Manager of Madar_39, a curated space in Abu Dhabi where creative entrepreneurs grow ideas into thriving businesses. With a background spanning urban planning, design, heritage, and cultural strategy, she brings a rare cross-disciplinary perspective to her work. As the first Emirati woman to earn a PhD in urban planning, Alamira Reem is widely recognized for her leadership in advancing the UAE’s urban development and cultural landscape, including her acclaimed book Planning Abu Dhabi: An Urban History. Her career includes impactful advisory roles on government city planning and heritage initiatives, and she has served on numerous national committees and panels dedicated to architecture, urbanism, and design. She has been celebrated among the UAE’s most inspiring women for her contributions to the country’s cultural and urban evolution.

Khulood Alatiyat brings more than 15 years of experience in strategic leadership, cultural programming, and stakeholder engagement across the UAE and internationally. She has held senior positions at prominent cultural institutions and foundations, where she has led long-term strategic planning at the intersection of arts, heritage, and community impact.

Most recently, Khulood served as a Senior Strategist at the Office of Impact within the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation (SHF), where she was instrumental in developing long-term strategies and purpose-driven initiatives that supported the UAE’s cultural vision.

Reem Fadda is a curator and art historian. From 2010 to 2016, Fadda worked at the Guggenheim Museum as Associate Curator, Middle Eastern Art, Abu Dhabi Project. From 2005 to 2007, Fadda was Director of the Palestinian Association for Contemporary Art (PACA), Ramallah and served as Academic Director for the International Academy of Art Palestine, Ramallah. She has curated many international exhibitions and biennials, including Jerusalem Lives (Tahya Al Quds), The Palestinian Museum, Birzeit (2017); Not New Now, 6th Marrakech Biennale, (2016) and the United Arab Emirates National Pavilion, 55th Venice Biennale (2013), Desert X Al Ula (2022), Saudi Pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennale (2022). Fadda was awarded the eighth Walter Hopps Award for Curatorial Achievement in 2017 and is an Alumni of the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum. In addition to her role as Director of the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi she is currently also Director of Culture Programming at the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi overseeing Public Art Abu Dhabi, Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Art, and the Music Programme. She is appointed as the Curator of the first edition of the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial 2024.

Adina Hempel is an architect and urban researcher, Director of the Zayed Institute for Architecture, Heritage, and Arts, and Associate Professor at Zayed University, with research focused on the evolution of desert culture and architecture, and modern heritage in the Arabian Peninsula.
Dr. Pradeep Sharma joined the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation in 2018 as Director of the Arts, Culture and Heritage program, overseeing Warehouse421, the National Pavilion UAE at the Venice Biennale, and the Emerging Artists Fellowship. He previously served as Provost at RISD, Dean at Bath Spa University, and Design Associate at the British Design Council, and holds a Doctorate in Complexity Thinking from the University of Hertfordshire.

Moderator:

Dr. Pradeep Sharma joined the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation in 2018 as Director of the Arts, Culture and Heritage program, overseeing Warehouse421, the National Pavilion UAE at the Venice Biennale, and the Emerging Artists Fellowship. He previously served as Provost at RISD, Dean at Bath Spa University, and Design Associate at the British Design Council, and holds a Doctorate in Complexity Thinking from the University of Hertfordshire.