Salik and Dubai Culture invite creatives to design custom Salik tags in the “Erth Dubai Through Your Eyes” competition, with AED 100,000 in prizes.
DUBAI: Salik Company PJSC, Dubai’s exclusive toll gate operator, has partnered with the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority to launch the “Erth Dubai Through Your Eyes” competition, a new platform for artists, designers and creatives to reimagine Salik tags through a cultural and artistic lens.
The competition invites participants to submit original tag designs that reflect their personal vision of Dubai, celebrating the city’s cultural diversity, creativity, and unique identity. Submissions are open until January 19, 2026, and the winners will be announced during the Sikka Art & Design Festival, taking place from January 23 to February 1, 2026, in Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood.
The contest features a total prize pool of AED 100,000 (USD 27,000). The first-place winner will receive USD 15,000, second place USD 7,000, and third place USD 5,000. Winning entries will become part of Salik’s future tag designs, offering public exposure to the UAE’s artistic talent.
A judging panel comprising representatives from Salik, Dubai Culture, and RTA will evaluate entries based on creativity, cultural relevance, originality, and alignment with the values of the local community.
Ibrahim Al Haddad, CEO of Salik, said the initiative reflects the company’s support for youth, innovation and the local creative sector. “Through this partnership, we look forward to motivating promising talent in schools, universities, and the creative community, and inspiring them to present works that reflect Dubai’s spirit and support its ambitions to reinforce its global leadership in innovation and quality of life.”
The project aligns with the broader ‘Erth Dubai’ initiative, which celebrates the emirate’s identity through storytelling, visual arts and innovation in public engagement. The competition also supports Dubai Culture’s strategy to position Dubai as a global capital for culture and a hub for creative talent.
Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, CEO of the Arts, Design and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, said: “The ‘Dubai Through Your Eyes’ competition celebrates what makes Dubai distinctive. It will help spread a culture of creativity and encourage artists to harness the city’s heritage to express diverse visions.”
Design proposals must be original, contemporary, and not previously displayed, while remaining aligned with UAE traditions and cultural sensitivities. Eligible participants include artists, calligraphers, graffiti artists, and designers across all disciplines.
The competition aims to expand Salik’s creative library, empower emerging artists, and transform functional items like toll tags into artistic expressions of place, identity and innovation.
