Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Aiming to promote cultural education and protect heritage, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi on Thursday launched the inaugural International Forum on Cultural Heritage and Knowledge Development, in partnership with UNESCO.
Held at Manarat Al Saadiyat until May 2, the forum gathers more than 25 global experts and major global organisations, such as UNIDROIT, ICOM, ICOMOS, ICCROM, the World Customs Organisation, UNODC, ALIPH, the Antiquities Coalition, and ICESCO.
It focuses on heritage’s role in sustainable development, education, and creative industries, as well as addressing digital transformation, legal frameworks, and crisis response.
“We firmly believe that culture and knowledge form the foundation for preserving and sustaining cultural heritage,” said Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the DCT – Abu Dhabi.
“Through a strong collaboration with UNESCO and other organisations, DCT – Abu Dhabi's integrated efforts in the UAE and abroad continue to lead initiatives that empower current and future generations to understand and cherish their cultural heritage as a key driver of sustainable development,” Al Mubarak added.
The forum follows UNESCO’s Culture and Arts Education Conference, which was held in Abu Dhabi in February 2024 and reflects DCT’s commitment to preserving heritage as a pillar of identity, creativity, and progress.
One of the speakers —Dr. Hasan Ashkanani, Professor of Archaeology and Anthropology at Kuwait University — shared his expertise in using educational tools to promote cultural heritage.
"These tools can be applied in countries around the world,” he said, highlighting 12 practical elements that can support cultural preservation, both through government initiatives and individual efforts.
“I have an example about establishing, at college level, a museum and laboratory as one of those keys or tools or elements that can enrich the experience of the young generations,” he told Aletihad.
“We ask them to get involved in the practical perspectives of anthropology and cultural studies.”
Dr. Ashkanani stressed the importance of hands-on learning, noting that his museum at Kuwait University gives students practical experience with artefacts—something he lacked during his own studies.
He stressed the role of community outreach, too, lauding how Abu Dhabi has successfully immersed crowds of people in rich cultural experiences.
“In Kuwait, we chose outreach and museums as key elements. Here in Abu Dhabi, you can see how places like the Louvre attract millions. These institutions offer not only insights into Abu Dhabi or Islamic history but also into the broader story of humanity,” the expert said.
“This forum is a great opportunity to exchange expertise, research ideas, and learn how we can continue improving the cultural sector,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bilal Al-Shabi, an ICESCO programme specialist, presented a paper on the importance of his organisation’s efforts in protecting cultural heritage in the Islamic world.
Education, he said, is key to protecting heritage.
"It is important to highlight Abu Dhabi's experience in integrating heritage into the education system. I believe the UAE, and specifically Abu Dhabi, has been a pioneer in this area. This is a very important step, and we hope that the rest of our member states will follow suit,” Al-Shabi said.
"Teaching culture, arts, heritage, and the mechanisms for dealing with cultural heritage, and the importance of this heritage in our daily lives, is essential. What Abu Dhabi is doing in this direction is a model that we hope will be implemented in other countries as well," he said
