Source : WAM
Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has successfully concluded the first edition of the Emirati Chefs Grant programme, designed to spotlight talented Emirati chefs, help them enhance their skills, and deepen their expertise in the art and culture of food.
The three-month initiative, conducted in partnership with the International Centre for Culinary Arts in Dubai (ICCA Dubai), reflects the Authority’s commitment to celebrating authentic local culture and its rich traditions of hospitality, while promoting Emirati cuisine on the global stage.
The inaugural edition featured a series of specialised culinary modules and awarded diplomas in culinary arts to six Emirati chefs—Noora Al Awadhi, Alia Al Ali, Asayel Al Marzouqi, Rashid Al Nuaimi, Huda Al Ghafli, and Mitha Al Ghafli—following their successful completion of expert-led training workshops at ICCA Dubai.
Participants gained hands-on experience in both foundational and advanced cooking techniques, preparing a wide range of appetisers, main courses, baked items, and desserts using state-of-the-art equipment.
The programme also covered menu design, hospitality etiquette, food presentation, food safety, public health, healthy nutrition, cost calculation, planning and preparation methods, and operational and managerial aspects of professional kitchens.
In parallel, Dubai Culture announced the second edition of the programme, launched in November 2025, enabling ten Emirati women chefs (Ayesha Khoory, Auhood Waleed Alzarooni, Hamda Adil Abdulhamid Abdulla Alkhoori, Hind Mohammad Almulla, Khawla Omar Alghefli, Meera Jasem Ghanem Obaid Alzaabi, Naima Al Mulla, Salwa Salim Eisa AlJallaf Al Ali, Aisha Alkhoori, and Shadha Alhosani) to obtain a Diploma in Culinary Arts.
Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, CEO of the Arts, Design & Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, affirmed that the Emirati Chefs Grant supports culinary talent by providing them with the opportunity to develop their skills and broaden their creative potential in preparing a diverse range of dishes that blend Emirati, Arab, and global flavours.
She said, “Through this grant, the Authority seeks to provide a unique platform that supports creative Emirati chefs, opens new horizons before them, and encourages them to unleash their ideas and pursue innovative projects. It also enables them to explore new concepts that enrich their knowledge and motivate them to advance in their professional journeys in the fields of culinary arts and food culture, contributing to the growth of Dubai’s cultural and creative industries.”
She added, “Food is an integral part of our authentic culture. Through it, local talent expresses the richness of Emirati cuisine and showcases our community’s identity, traditions, values, and spirit of generosity. This is clearly reflected in the original and innovative dishes they create.
“Being homegrown in the UAE for the world means carrying a unique responsibility,” said Sunjeh Raja, Director & CEO of ICCA Dubai. “At ICCA, we take great pride in training a new generation of Emirati chefs and refining their skills, while keeping them rooted in their cultural identity and culinary heritage.”
