How Alia Al Shamsi is redefining the UAE’s creative identity

Life

The founder of her own art consultancy, Alia Al Shamsi opens up about how internal strength and authenticity shaped her journey from artist to cultural entrepreneur.

It’s the scariest thing ever, and it requires so much faith in yourself,” says Alia Al Shamsi, author, artist, curator and founder of her namesake art consultancy. Just one week prior to our interview, the Emirati-Italian creative took one of the biggest leaps of her career and launched her own company.

For Al Shamsi, it was an act of faith, one rooted in the kind of internal strength that has carried her through two decades in the arts and culture world. “Strength in the arts is about not giving up, even when doubt creeps in,” she affirms. That refusal to bend, even in moments of uncertainty, has defined Al Shamsi’s journey from her earliest days as a student taking the bold step to study abroad, to her current role as a cultural leader shaping the UAE’s creative landscape. What drove her to go independent was the realisation that, after two decades, she was ready to back herself in a big way, using her understanding of storytelling to drive change and impact by building bridges between local voices and global audiences. Instead of working from the global toward the local, she chose the reverse: to root herself in the local and push it outward, championing the representation of regional art, culture, and narratives.

Her mission is to give voice to the art of the region. “Part of my success has always been the amazing support I have received from my community and this new consultancy is equally a way to give back to them,” she says. The goal is to build a business that mirrors the message of the organisations she had worked with in the past, like the Louvre Abu Dhabi or the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, where integrity and individuality are non-negotiable. She even convinced herself during the transition period by saying that if it didn’t work out, it would still be an experience.

But for Al Shamsi, success isn’t about external validation or recognition, it’s about whether a project lives up to the values she has set for herself. These self-imposed benchmarks push her to think bigger, to execute with precision, and to keep raising the bar – not against others, but against the vision she knows she’s capable of mastering. “I have my own internal set of KPI’s, because I have these standards that I want to reach for myself, and it just motivates me,” she confesses. Yet, with every leap forward, Al Shamsi is candid about the limitations she has faced along the way. “I’ve failed a course, and I’ve not done well in a project,” she admits. “But these moments don’t define you – they teach you, they push you to keep going, and they strengthen your resolve.” For her, limitations are not walls but tools, forcing her to rethink approaches, uncover new solutions, and turn setbacks into opportunities for growth.

That deep-rooted sense of discipline and self measurement is inseparable from her background. Born into a heritage where art was both inheritance and inevitability, Al Shamsi grew up with creativity in her blood. “I’m able to see two perspectives, whether I agree or not on some of the things, it doesn’t matter. It’s not about agreeing or disagreeing. It’s this idea of understanding,” she shares. With an Emirati father and an Italian mother, her childhood was steeped in creativity, surrounded by photographers, fashion designers, musicians, writers, and gallery owners.

Growing up between two cultures offered her not only dual perspectives but also the ability to move between them with empathy and clarity. “I’ve always felt my role is to be a bridge,” she reflects. “To take from both sides, to listen, to understand, and to create something new out of that exchange.” This passion for dialogue has become a hallmark of her practice, enabling her to weave heritage into contemporary narratives while drawing parallels with other traditions. Whether exploring sculpture, weaving, or poetry, she views the UAE’s visual language not just as documentation but as an enduring expression of resilience and continuity.

Today, after two decades of navigating international education, cultural research, and community building, Al Shamsi has emerged as one of the UAE’s leading voices in arts and culture. Her story is one of perseverance, cultural dialogue, and strength, the kind that refuses to bend even when faced with uncertainty, and that looks to inspire a new generation of Emirati creatives.

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Images: Supplied