Expo City Dubai hosts UAE Loves Iraq cultural celebration

Expo City Dubai hosted the second edition of UAE Loves Iraq on Saturday, bringing together Iraqi expatriate families and Emirati guests at the Dubai Exhibition Centre. The cultural celebration featured replicas of Iraqi landmarks, heritage displays, traditional music and food.

Hundreds of Iraqi nationals living across the UAE attended the event, which included a replica of Baghdad's Martyrs' Square and a recreation of Samarra's spiral minaret. Families walked through a souk-style lane, browsed heritage displays and posed for photographs under Iraqi and UAE flags. The venue featured a blue-and-gold heritage gateway, message walls, traditional clothing displays and a main stage. Activities included Iraqi food, art, family programming and musical performances.

Attendee participation and traditional dress#

Attendees included families dressed in traditional Iraqi clothing, with women wearing Hasmi and Kurdish outfits for the occasion. Shireen Mirza, a chef and influencer, attended in a Kurdish outfit, while other attendees wore Hasmi dresses. Each garment carried distinct embroidery and regional design elements. Families used the gathering to reconnect with other members of the Iraqi community living in the UAE and to share Iraqi culture with younger generations born in the Emirates.

Official attendance and community presence#

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, attended the event. The celebration was designed to strengthen cultural ties between the UAE and Iraq while giving Iraqi residents an opportunity to reconnect with their heritage. Attendees included Iraqi nationals who have lived in the UAE for periods ranging from several years to multiple decades, as well as younger community members born and raised in the Emirates.

Event format and cultural programming#

The programme featured music, folk performances and creator participation. The venue included heritage installations, food stalls and activity areas for families. Visitors carried flags, took photographs and met with friends and family members. The gathering served as a reunion point for Iraqi expatriates across the UAE and provided an introduction to Iraqi culture for children growing up in the Emirates.