Comprehensive plan for development of Arab culture to be discussed at UAE conference

The UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth announced on Saturday that it will host the 22nd session of the Conference of Arab Culture Ministers in collaboration with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) on December 19-20, 2021.

The conference, taking place during Expo 2020 Dubai, will host 21 ministers in-charge of cultural affairs in various Arab countries, the Director General of ALECSO, and other key figures from the Arab world.

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The conference will discuss a comprehensive plan for Arab culture and its modernization and discuss ways to keep it relevant today while promoting cultural cooperation among Arab nations. It will also seek to foster exchanges with other cultures around the world.

The main discussions of the conference will centre on unifying Arab efforts in various cultural fields, including cooperation in the registration of intangible heritage with UNESCO, and the development of cultural and creative industries in the region.

The event is also set to propose the ambassador programme to promote Arab culture.

It will focus on a number of topics, most notably the Status Report and the Future of the Arabic Language, published by the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth, in partnership with the Arabic Language Advisory Council.

Furthermore, the conference will discuss ways to develop and launch joint projects in the fields of culture, heritage, and the Arabic language.

The participating ministers will also join the opening ceremony of the Arabic Language Summit, and Al Burda Festival and Award, which will be held in conjunction with this session.

Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of Culture and Youth, applauded the session, set to be held at Expo 2020 Dubai – the world’s largest cultural platform, dedicated to celebrating the diversity of human cultures and providing an opportunity to learn about the cultures of 192 countries.

“The Conference of Arab Culture Ministers is a very significant platform to promote Arab cultural cooperation and devise new ways to ensure its enrichment and advancement,” Al Kaabi asserted. “The UAE is committed to fostering greater cooperation with ALECSO and strengthening its role in supporting the organisation’s efforts.”

“The UAE is an active partner in leading Arab cultural cooperation,” Al Kaabi added. “Hosting the conference in the UAE reflects our wise leadership’s vision to support Arab culture as the link between the peoples of this region and reaffirms the pivotal role culture plays in forging stronger ties.”

Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, ALECSO’s Director General, revealed that the Organisation had prepared extensively for this critical conference. “The conference is very promising for our organization and gives us great hope for the future of Arab culture,” he said.

“The conference was planned after a lot of thought and deliberation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and by bringing together high-ranking ministers, it seeks to promote collaborative Arab activities in the fields of culture and heritage.”

“The UAE will remain a key partner to ALECSO in various activities and programmes – particularly in the cultural field,” he said.

The 22nd session of Conference of Arab Culture Ministers, while bringing together government officials, policymakers, and members of international organizations, will discuss the outcomes of the World Conference on Creative Economy, and draw up a five-year roadmap of joint Arab efforts to record intangible heritage with UNESCO. It’s a definitive platform for those interested in Arab culture and the Arabic language and forge conversations with Arab youth, to exchange ideas, tackle challenges and discuss new opportunities.

The Chair of the conference is set to be handed over from the Arab Republic of Egypt, Chair of the 21st Session, to the United Arab Emirates to lead the current session. The agenda includes the ratification of the theme and venue of the next session of the conference, which is expected to be hosted in Saudi Arabia.

Attendees will also participate in Al Burda Award and Festival, which feature intellectuals and innovators in Islamic culture from around the world, in an effort to enhance the UAE’s position as a cultural hub and an incubator for creative arts through various dialogue sessions, art exhibitions, and performances.

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