Dubai,TNM: Aurela Cuku, originally from Albania, has been immersed in the world of art since the age of six. Around ten years ago, she conceived the idea of a park where children’s drawings could be displayed to spread a message of peace. Where better to bring this vision to life than Dubai — a miniature version of the world? Thus, The World Park for Peace was established in Dubai’s Al Fahidi Historical District — a space that displays drawings from children across the globe, sharing dreams, hopes, and a powerful message of peace.
The park features nearly 200,000 drawings by children from 152 countries, collected from over 7,500 schools worldwide. The artworks, created by children aged 4 to 12, are showcased not merely as an art exhibition, but as a movement — a mission to instill peace through the innocent minds of young artists. Aurela initiated this park with the deeper goal of embedding the value of peace in young hearts through creative expression.
The park was partially opened in the presence of Emirati artist Sheikh Ali Abdullah Rashid Nasser Al Mulla and opera singer Inva Mula.
Realizing that “pictures have so much to say to the world,” Aurela collaborated with the Italian volunteer organization Colors of Peace. As the founder of Artissim Art Agency and Artissim Art Gallery, Aurela has served as a curator in numerous international art exhibitions, including several in the Middle East. She is also a recipient of many awards. Colors for Peace is the foundation behind the Park for Peace initiative. Currently, three such parks exist around the world — in Italy, and in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. The Al Fahidi park is modeled on these, with the shared aim of promoting peace through children's artwork that transcends borders and languages.
Children can submit their drawings either directly or through schools. The central theme must revolve around peace. Who knows — your child’s artwork might one day greet visitors at the Park for Peace in Italy. As Aurela says, “Children do not recognize the boundaries of nation, region, or language. So, their imagination and their drawings have no limits.”
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At Dubai’s World Park for Peace, the artwork is curated through four thematic rooms — representing the four elements: water, air, fire, and earth. Additionally, there’s a Fathers’ Room, a fifth space designed to reflect on the journey and legacy of the past. Each room is designed to provide visitors with an immersive emotional experience tied to its theme.
UAE's global leadership in promoting peace made it the ideal place to bring this vision to life. Plans are also in place to collaborate with other Emirates on similar initiatives. In partnership with the Umm Al Quwain Municipality, over 300 plants have already been planted. Similar environmentally conscious projects are envisioned across the country. The importance of protecting nature and raising awareness among children is also emphasized through a documentary titled "Green Desert".
Children who love to draw are welcome to visit and personally submit their artworks. These pictures will one day silently speak messages of peace to visitors from around the world.
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