9 Aug_ICAE_Book_with PT Notes

40 GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
ON THE ISLAMIC CREATIVE ECONOMY
Siddiqa Juma | creatopia.ae\siddiqa
WHAT DUBAI
RESIDENTS SAY
The generalised consensus among Dubai
residents is that funding for Islamic
Culture and Art activities should be split
between the Government and Islamic
banks. In general, Western expats are
the least likely (18%) to suggest that
only the government should fund Islamic
Culture and Art, while 34% of Emiratis
seem to think so. Interestingly, both
Emiratis (49%) and Western expats
(51%) believe that funding should be
split between Islamic banks and the
government. It also falls to banks and
the government to lend start-up capital
in order to demonstrate the viability and
importance of Islamic Arts and Culture
to residents in Dubai, 45% of whom
believe that Islamic Culture and Art
contributes to Dubai’s economy; while
55% believe that it contributes very
little, not at all, or do not know.
Among those who do not know if
Islamic Culture and Art contributes to
the economy, 34% are Arab expats,
38% are residents that identify as
non-religious, and 37% are those with
secondary school education, while
those who believe that Islamic Culture
and Art contributes to the economy
increases as education levels increase.
Close to 7 out of 10 Arab expats believe
that Islamic Culture and Art has little
or no impact on the economy or do
not know, while the majority of Asian
expats (51%) believe it contributes with
some significance. A similar gap appears
between the opinions of Muslims and
Christian residents of Dubai.
These results support the creation of
an independent Foundation for Islamic
Culture and Art in Dubai that could build
partnerships with the private sector
to channel funds from Islamic banks,
cultural organisations and funding
institutions from around the region and
the world.