The iconic Sultan Abdul Samad Building along Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur, and the surrounding Dataran Merdeka area hold significant historical and architectural heritage. Photo: The Star/Faihan Ghani
Kuala Lumpur has been named a Unesco Creative City of Design in 2025 – marking a milestone that recognises the Malaysian capital city's growing influence as a hub of innovation, culture, and urban creativity.
The announcement was made today (Oct 31) on World Cities Day 2025, as Unesco Director-General Audrey Azoulay and the UCCN welcomed 58 new member cities.
With these new designations, the network now includes 408 cities across more than 100 countries.
"Unesco Creative Cities demonstrate that culture and creative industries can be concrete drivers of development. By welcoming 58 new cities, we are strengthening a Network where creativity supports local initiatives, attracts investments, and promote social cohesion," said Azoulay in a statement.
In March this year, DBKL (KL City Hall), with support from Think City, submitted the application to Unesco Creative Cities Network (UCCN) after two years of careful planning and preparation.
Named a Unesco Creative City of Design in 2025, Kuala Lumpur finds one of its many examples of creative design in Central Market – once a wet market built in 1888, now a vibrant showcase of the city’s cultural heritage. Photo: The Star/Yap Chee Hong
"This recognition is the result of a collective effort by DBKL, the government, the creative community, academic institutions, and the design industry in developing a dynamic design ecosystem. With the collaboration of Think City, more than 200 individuals were involved in a two-year engagement process to produce Kuala Lumpur’s dossier, which was submitted to Unesco in March 2025. The document highlights the city’s identity through heritage conservation, public space development, the establishment of design institutions, and the organisation of various creative events," outlines a DBKL media statement.
Established in 2004, the UCCN fosters collaboration among cities that view creativity as a key driver of sustainable urban development.
Its member cities work to place culture and creative industries at the heart of local growth while strengthening international cooperation. For the first time, the UCCN also welcomed Creative Cities of Architecture – a new creative field in addition to the seven existing ones: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music.
With Kuala Lumpur joining the UCCN list, Malaysia now has three designated Creative Cities – Ipoh, named a City of Music in 2023, and Kuching, recognised in 2021 as City of Gastronomy.
In addition to the Unesco World Heritage Sites of George Town (Penang) and Melaka, Langkawi’s status as a Global Geopark and Sabah's Crocker Range’s recognition as a Biosphere Reserve further reflect Malaysia’s commitment to preserving heritage, driving innovation, and championing sustainability.
