ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani art and culture festival opened in Dubai on Saturday, bringing together traditional and contemporary artistic expressions as part of efforts to promote Pakistan’s cultural heritage on an international platform.

The festival, held at the Dubai International Art Center, is a continuation of similar cultural events arranged by Pakistan in the Gulf state. The event features works by Pakistani artists and cultural vendors offering traditional clothing, jewelry and handcrafted items.

“UAE provides unique spaces and opportunities where diverse cultures converge, interact and are celebrated,” Pakistan’s Consul General Hussain Muhammad said, according to an official statement, after inaugurating the event.

“Art serves as an important instrument of soft diplomacy, helping project Pakistan’s positive image to the world and fostering people-to-people connections,” he added.

Pakistani participation in UAE cultural spaces has included artists featured at Art Dubai 2025, one of the Middle East’s major international art fairs, where Pakistani creatives exhibited works spanning modern and contemporary sections.

In 2025, Pakistani artists also presented their work at an exhibition in Ajman that highlighted Pakistan’s cultural heritage, drawing art lovers and diplomats alike.

Last year also saw an exhibition in Dubai that displayed the work of Pakistan’s late painter and calligrapher Sadequain, giving audiences in the UAE a chance to engage with the legacy of one of the country’s most iconic artists.