Hala Badri

In April 2019, Hala Badri was appointed as the Director General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority by a royal decree from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.^[4]

Prior to joining Dubai Culture, Badri was a senior advisor on strategic communications for Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).^[5] During her tenure with ADNOC she was also seconded to the National Media Council as a senior consultant to oversee the content strategy and visitor experience for the UAE National Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.^[5] Before ADNOC, she spent 11 years at UAE's second telecommunications company, du, as the Executive Vice President of Brand and Communications.^[6]

In addition to her current role as Director General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Hala Badri holds several prominent positions across key institutions in the UAE. She serves as the Chairperson for the Dubai Women Establishment Board of Directors,^[7] and as the Vice-Chairman of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) Board of Trustees.^[8][9] She is also a member of the Board of Dubai Media Council,^[10][11] the Board of Trustees of the Higher Colleges of Technology,^[12] and the Board of Trustees of the Rashid and Latifa Schools Establishment,^[13] Furthermore, she is a member of the Board of Governors at Citizens School.^[14]

In 2003, Hala Badri was twice awarded the Sheikh Rashid Award for Scientific Excellence, for outstanding academic achievement during her earlier education.^[15] In 2012, she was also named as the 21st most powerful and influential personality in the Middle East's media, marketing and advertising industry in Communicate magazine's Power List 2012.^[16] She was named as The Holmes Report's 2018 Innovator 25 in EMEA,^[17] ranked at 33 of Forbes ME 200 most powerful Arab woman in the World in 2014,^[18] and at 37 of 100 most powerful Arab business women in Listed Companies in 2012 to name a few.^[19] In May 2024, she was also named one of Fast Company Middle East's 43 Most Creative People in Business in the Bringing Good Things To More People category, in recognition of her role in transforming the creative and cultural sector in Dubai.^[20] In January 2025, she won the Gold Award for Most Innovative Woman of the Year at the MENA Stevie Awards, in addition to the Silver award for Thought Leader of the Year.^[21] In February 2025, she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in Dubai Quality Group's 20th cycle of the Emirates Women Award.^[22] She was also featured on Arabian Business's 100 Most Inspiring Leaders List 2024,^[23] and placed 11th on Arabian Business's 100 Most Inspiring Women 2025.^[24]