The 22nd Conference of Arab Culture Ministers
The 22nd Conference of Arab Culture Ministers took place at Expo 2020 Dubai last 19th and 20th December, after being postponed for a year due to Covid reasons.
The event is held on a biennial basis with the first taking place back in 1976 in Amman, Jordan.
The Arab culture
Each session is centered around a main topic concerning the Arab culture. Through the years, the conference has achieved significant accomplishments in various fields and has promoted several projects and initiatives to enhance the status of the Arab culture in the world.
This year’s focus was the review and the development of the Comprehensive Plan of the Arab Culture, specifically its modernization and how to unite Arab nations through cultural cooperation. This cooperation should lead to the registration of intangible heritage with UNESCO and to the development of the cultural and creative industries in the region.
The conference
The conference was hosted by the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth in collaboration with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO); 21 ministers in-charge of cultural affairs in various Arab countries and other key figures attended the event.
The UAE play a pivotal role in the enrichment of the Arab culture and are a key partner of ALECSO. It is not a coincidence that the conference is taking place in Expo, the world’s largest cultural platform, dedicated to celebrating the diversity of human cultures and providing an opportunity to learn about the ones of 192 countries, as the UAE Minister of Culture and Youth, Noura al Kaabi, noted.
Another main topic of discussion has been the Arabic language, with the participants joining the opening ceremony of the Arabic Language Summit, and the signing of the UAE Declaration for the Arabic Language launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
Attendees also participated in Al Burda Festival and Award which features intellectuals and innovators in Islamic culture from around the world, to enhance the UAE’s position as a cultural hub and an incubator for creative arts through various dialogue sessions, art exhibitions, and performances.
The next edition of the Conference of Arab Culture Ministers is planned to take place in Saudi Arabia.
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