Dubai Culture has opened applications for its upcoming Arabic Typography Programme, inviting design professionals to explore new ways of working with Arabic letterforms.
The programme is being organised in partnership with Visual Synonyms and is designed for practitioners looking to develop their skills in contemporary Arabic typography. The course combines academic instruction with hands-on work, giving participants an opportunity to study the visual qualities of Arabic lettering and experiment with new interpretations.
Applications are open from August 31 to September 20, 2026.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is led by Dr Antoine Abi Aad, Associate Professor at the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises at Zayed University.
It is intended for working professionals with between three and 10 years of experience, along with a solid working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator. Applicants should also demonstrate an interest in developing their practice within Arabic typography.
Those applying will need to submit a CV and a creative portfolio featuring selected artworks and completed design projects. Participants must also be available to attend the full programme, which will run for one month beginning in mid-October.
A committee of artists and specialists will assess the applications and select participants based on the programme’s requirements.
From Research to New Typographic Work
The month-long programme will include specialised masterclasses, mentoring sessions, interactive workshops, and practical assignments.
The sessions will either be delivered over two consecutive weeks or spread across five weekends.
One of the programme’s central exercises will involve looking beyond Arabic typography itself. Participants will begin by studying the visual language used in Japanese identity marks before moving into a period of experimentation.
The process will ultimately lead to the development of contemporary typographic works based on Arabic letterforms, with participants encouraged to approach the forms through current design methods.
By combining research with practical experimentation, the programme aims to provide established designers with a space to test new ideas in Arabic typography while strengthening their understanding of its visual possibilities.
