Abu Dhabi Hosts First Forum on Cultural Heritage & Knowledge

Photo : Abu Dhabi Media Office

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has started a new global event called the International Forum on Cultural Heritage & Knowledge Development. This event is aimed at improving cultural education and protecting heritage for future generations.

The forum is being held in partnership with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and includes support from many well-known international groups. It will take place in Abu Dhabi from 1st to 2nd May 2025.

Some of the global organisations taking part are:

• UNIDROIT (International Institute for the Unification of Private Law)
• ICOM (International Council of Museums)
• ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites)
• ICCROM (International Centre for the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property)
• WCO (World Customs Organization)
• UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
• ALIPH (Aliph Foundation)
• Antiquities Coalition (AC)
• ICESCO (Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)

The forum will bring together people from around the world, including:

• Government leaders
• Teachers and scholars
• Experts in cultural heritage
• Legal and technology professionals

They will discuss the importance of culture in people’s lives and how it can support sustainable development. The forum will also focus on how to use education and modern technology to better protect heritage sites and objects.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, the Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said that this event is an important step in helping people learn about and protect culture. He believes that knowledge and culture go hand in hand when it comes to saving our heritage. He also shared that working with UNESCO and other partners will help current and future generations value and protect their culture.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel  

This forum is a follow-up to a previous UNESCO event held in Abu Dhabi in February 2024, where leaders from around the world approved the UNESCO Framework for Culture and Arts Education. That framework, first developed in 2021, gives countries a guide on how to improve culture and arts education in schools.

DCT Abu Dhabi is using this framework to promote cultural heritage as a major part of culture. They also want to connect it with modern creativity, helping people understand how the past and present can work together.

The event will also cover topics like:

• Digital tools in culture and education
• Creating strong laws and policies to protect heritage
• What to do when heritage is at risk or in danger
• How communities can help protect culture in the future

After the forum ends, five special educational sessions will be held in May, June, and September 2025. These will teach people about UNESCO rules and legal tools that help protect culture.

In short, Abu Dhabi is becoming a global center for sharing ideas and working together to keep history, culture, and heritage alive for generations to come.