Italian football club AC Milan and Dubai Culture & Arts Authority have unveiled a special creative collaboration with Emirati artist Fatema (Fay) Alkaabi to mark Eid Al Adha, bringing together football, heritage and contemporary Emirati art.
The project, announced in Dubai on May 27, features a new artwork inspired by the Rossoneri identity and the traditional Emirati craft of Sadu, which is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
According to the organisers, the collaboration also supports the Eid in Dubai campaign under the umbrella of the Season of Wulfa initiative, which aims to strengthen family bonds, celebrate Emirati cultural occasions and preserve local heritage.
The artwork combines AC Milan’s iconic red, black and white visual identity with the geometric motifs and rhythmic patterns of traditional Sadu weaving. The release noted that Alkaabi “drew inspiration for the Eid greeting artwork from the vertical stripes and gradients of red, black and white that have long formed part of AC Milan’s visual identity since the Club’s founding by Englishman Herbert Kilpin, who came to Italy to share the expertise of Britain’s emerging textile industry.”
It added that these elements “intersect with the geometric rhythm and motifs of traditional Emirati Sadu weaving.”
The artist also incorporated “references inspired by the local landscape and the spirit of Eid, reflecting the authenticity of Emirati culture through a contemporary visual treatment, and weaving past and present into a single design,” according to the statement.
The collaboration forms part of Dubai Culture’s broader efforts to support Emirati creatives and present local heritage through modern artistic expressions while helping artists reach international audiences.
The artwork has been shared across AC Milan’s digital channels as part of the club’s ongoing engagement with the Middle East. According to Nielsen and GWI data cited in the release, AC Milan is “the most followed Italian side in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with more than 11 million supporters.”
Since opening Casa Milan Dubai in 2023, the club has carried out several initiatives with regional creatives and institutions, including collaborations with screenwriter and director Nāyla al-Khāja and artist Kareemgraphy.
The statement said the project with Dubai Culture “marks a new chapter in this journey of shared growth, building bridges between sport, culture and creativity.”
