Where innovation meets inclusion, magic happens. Just ask Mays Ahmed, whose fingers traced the contours of a photograph for the first time, her face lighting up as she “saw” art through touch. Born with visual impairment, she was excluded from the world of visual art until technology bridged this gap, transforming flat images into tactile experiences that she could touch.
As the UAE embraces 2025 as the “Year of Community,” stories like Mays remind us that the most meaningful progress happens when purpose and partnership intersect. The region’s deep-rooted concept of ta’awun—cooperation for mutual benefit—offers us a blueprint for addressing challenges that once seemed insurmountable. When organizations roll up their sleeves and collaborate with genuine intention, technology transforms into a catalyst for human potential.
Across the Middle East, we’re witnessing the transformative dissolution of traditional boundaries. Art, technology, commerce, and social impact are no longer separate domains but interconnected spaces where innovation thrives.
Mays’ experience at the “World Unseen” exhibition at the Sikka Art & Design Festival, where innovative printing technology, audio descriptions, and braille converge to make visual arts accessible, opened the door to art to the estimated 600,000 people with vision impairments in the UAE. The magic didn’t stop with accessibility—when sighted visitors closed their eyes and experienced art through touch and sound, they discovered entirely new dimensions of appreciation. Suddenly, inclusion isn’t just about accommodation; it’s about enriching everyone’s experience.
This spirit of breaking boundaries extends to empowering women in fields historically dominated by men. The photography and printing sectors have long been male territory, but targeted partnerships are rewriting this narrative. Through initiatives like the Dubai Business Women Council’s collaboration with Canon on Women Who Empower (WWE), women are stepping from behind the lens to behind the controls.
Belinda Freeman, founder of Queen B, demonstrates this transformation. Her entrepreneurial journey took an exciting turn when she joined WWE. Through immersive training in photography, videography, and printing, she mastered the technical trinity of ISO, shutter speed, and aperture, but discovered something far more meaningful: a way to preserve her family’s legacy. Her family cookbook project she created is a bridge between generations—a testament to how technical skills can nurture both commercial success and profound human connection.
Meanwhile, in Jordan’s Za’atari refugee camp, young photographers are flipping the script on displacement narratives. Armed with cameras and training through the Young People Program, teenagers once documented by others are now documenting their own realities. Their photographs reveal not just the hardships of refugee life but the resilience and hope that mainstream coverage often misses. The transformation is remarkable: from being subjects in someone else’s story to becoming authors of their own narratives.
These seemingly different initiatives share a powerful common thread: the strategic application of technology to expand human connection rather than replace it. We see this philosophy when 3D ultrasound technology allows blind parents to “meet” their unborn child through touch or when advanced cameras enable photographers like Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Muhammed Muheisen to capture poignant moments from refugee settlements, or Brent Stirton to document the last northern white rhino or local talents like Mustapha Azab to preserve cultural traditions like pre-dawn camel caravans in Abu Dhabi’s desert.
In each case, technology acts as an extension of human capability—amplifying our ability to preserve what matters, tell stories that need telling, and create connections across divides. This approach becomes increasingly vital as artificial intelligence reshapes creative industries. The question isn’t whether to embrace technological advancement but how to ensure it enhances rather than diminishes human expression.
The business case for this human-centered approach grows stronger daily. Companies balancing purpose with profit consistently show greater market resilience, deeper customer loyalty, and stronger talent attraction. Today’s consumers don’t just buy products; they invest in values while employees increasingly seek meaning in their jobs. Purpose-driven partnerships emerge as strategic investments in sustainable business models.
The Japanese concept of Kyosei—living and working together for the common good—provides a philosophical foundation for this approach. When businesses view themselves not as entities separate from society but as integral community members, they discover innovations that serve both commercial and social interests. Success extends beyond quarterly earnings to lasting positive impact.
As we look toward the UAE’s “Year of Community,” we’re reminded that the most promising innovations emerge at intersections—where art meets technology, corporate resources address community needs, and diverse perspectives converge toward shared goals. Like Mays experiencing art through her fingertips, we’re discovering new ways to connect, create, and contribute to a world where partnerships and purpose unleash our collective potential.
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