A small non-profit making community arts centre which has been a cultural landmark in Dubai is being evicted and forced to relocate. The Dubai International Art Centre or D.I.A.C. is losing out in the city's race for development, after thirty years of serving its faithful clientele.

Rumours have been circulating between the centre's members and teachers that their artistic haven is being forced to relocate. However, they have yet to be told the news officially.

Iman Zagheb, a 17 year old art student who has been a regular at the centre since she was eight years old, feels a sense of loss and disappointment.

Iman Zagheb, art student, said, "It's something nice to do, a way to get away and be able to do art and be creative. And it's a really safe space to do that and it's really sad that it's all going away."

The small centre will soon be a victim of the municipality's law requiring all commercial enterprises to move out of residential areas and onto the city's main roads.

Despite the art centre's attempt to designate itself as a nonprofit organisation, the Dubai Municipality is pressing on with its plans.

John Davy, operations director, D.I.A.C., said, "The problem arose recently when the municipality said it could not reinstate our trading licenses, because they want to move any commercial or quasi-commercial enterprise out of the residential area and put us on Al-Wasl or Beach Road (Dubai main roads)."

When the D.I.A.C. was founded in 1976 it was the fruit of a handful of artists' need for place to discuss, practice and exchange their passion for art. Initially they would meet in the garages of their villas. From there they organised painting sessions, exhibitions and art trips, and the centre's membership has now grown to over 1,500 people from 67 different nationalities.

Today the DIAC remains a nonprofit organisation that aims to provide a "home away from home" for the local artists -- and there are no plans to change that.