Waheeda Alhadhrami

A critical thinker, passionate advocate, and gifted public speaker, Waheeda AlHadhrami is dedicated to developing the UAE’s cultural and creative industries.

Waheeda holds a Master of Arts in Arts Management from Claremont Graduate University in partnership with Sotheby’s Institute of Art and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from American University of Sharjah. She carries over 12 years of experience in the UAE public sector, including her tenure at the UAE Ministry of Culture, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s cultural and creative industries strategic direction. She has contributed to and led foundational initiatives, including the UAE’s 10-Year National Strategy for Cultural and Creative Industries, the National Economic Framework to monitor the performance of the creative sector, and the first National Grant Program for Culture and Creativity. Waheeda has recently joined the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, where she now heads cultural policy and leads key initiatives such as CultureStats-AD, a flagship cultural data knowledge platform. Her work reflects a deep understanding of policy design and implementation across both national and emirate levels.

She has completed the Cultural Excellence Fellowship with the British Council and is a participant in Oxford University’s prestigious Oxford Cultural Leaders Program. With her expertise in cultural policy and extensive knowledge of the UAE’s creative ecosystem, Waheeda is frequently nominated to speak at conferences, address international bodies, and represent her sector within government committees. She has represented the UAE on global platforms, including UNESCO and the G20, to promote her nation’s position in the global creative economy.