Latest news with #culturaldialogue
Khaleej Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 welcomes a million visitors in less than two months
The UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai welcomed its one millionth visitor today, marking a major milestone since the Expo began on April 13. The achievement comes in less than two months since the Expo opened, highlighting the Pavilion's powerful storytelling and global appeal. The one millionth visitor, a Japanese construction industry professional from Kobe, was greeted by Shihab AlFaheem, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the UAE to Japan and Commissioner General of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. A special commemorative certificate was presented to the visitor to celebrate the moment and acknowledge the significance of the milestone. "Reaching one million visitors today fills us with immense pride and reaffirms the Pavilion's role as a vibrant platform for fostering cross-cultural dialogue and innovation," said Shihab. "Each visitor who walks through our doors becomes part of the story we are telling. It is a story that reflects the UAE's values, our people and our vision for the future," he added. Multi-sensory journey through UAE's story Since opening, the UAE Pavilion has welcomed a steady stream of visitors drawn to its immersive storytelling and striking design. Built around the theme 'Earth to Ether', the Pavilion offers a multi-sensory journey through the UAE's story, highlighting the people and innovations shaping its future, drawing on heritage to accelerate collective progress for life on Earth and beyond. Taking design inspiration from the cherished date palm tree, the pavilion reimagines 'areesh', traditional vernacular architecture of the UAE. Fusing agricultural date palm waste with Japanese woodworking expertise, the pavilion bonds the two cultures in the spirit of collaboration. Emirati culinary experience Visitors can experience an authentic Emirati culinary experience at the pavilion's restaurant, peruse a curated selection of products by UAE-based creatives at the shop, and enjoy a dynamic range of programs activated in the workshop space. Located in the Empowering Lives zone, near the Japanese Pavilion and Shining Hat exhibition hall, the UAE Pavilion welcomes guests daily between 9am and 9pm until October 13, 2025, when the Expo concludes. The UAE Expo Office serves as a national platform to convene people, ideas, and innovations in service of global progress. Incubated by the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation and operating under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office leads the UAE's strategic participation at international expositions. About Expo 2025 Osaka Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai is being held from April 13 to October 13, 2025, under the theme 'Designing Future Society for Our Lives'. The UAE's participation continues its legacy of expo involvement, from its first pavilion in Expo Osaka '70 to hosting Expo 2020 Dubai. The UAE Pavilion, Earth to Ether, is an immersive multisensory journey showcasing how the nation draws on both heritage and cutting-edge technology to address global challenges and create a lasting legacy of impact.
28-05-2025
- General
Latifa bint Mohammed meets with Lebanon's Ministers of Culture, Information at Arab Media Summit
H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, met with Dr. Ghassan Salamé, Minister of Culture of Lebanon, and Dr. Paul Morcos, Minister of Information, on the sidelines of the Arab Media Summit. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Summit is organised by the Dubai Press Club and runs through 28th May at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The meeting underscored the deep-rooted cultural ties between the UAE and Lebanon and reaffirmed the shared commitment to strengthening regional collaboration in the fields of culture, heritage preservation, the arts, and media. Discussions explored potential areas of partnership to support talent development and creative industries, focusing on empowering future generations and safeguarding the region's rich cultural legacy. H.H. Sheikha Latifa emphasised the importance of cultural dialogue in building bridges between societies and championing diversity as a pillar for sustainable development across the Arab world. The meeting was attended by Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, President of the Dubai Press Club, and Chairperson of the Organising Committee of the Arab Media Summit; and Dr. Maitha Buhumaid, Secretary-General of the Arab Media Award, and Vice Chairperson of the Organising Committee of the Arab Media Summit. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Arab News
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
International Museum Day 2025: Abu Dhabi shapes future through culture and connection
Abu Dhabi has always been a meeting point of worlds where East and West, past and future, tradition and ambition converge. This is not just a matter of geography. It reflects who we are: a society shaped by the exchange of ideas, driven by curiosity, and united by a deep belief in the power of culture to move people and ideas forward. That belief takes center stage as we mark International Museum Day on May 18. This year's theme, The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities, could not be timelier. In an age defined by technological acceleration, climate disruption, and global uncertainty, museums are no longer just guardians of the past. They are engines of progress where creativity, inclusion, and innovation come together to shape more resilient and connected societies. These values guide the mission of Saadiyat Cultural District Abu Dhabi, one of the greatest concentrations of global institutions. Its shared narrative is a celebration of cultural dialogue, creative exploration, and the human story that binds us across time and geography. The district is more than a center of global cultural and creative excellence; it is a lasting commitment to a society where knowledge and creativity is nurtured, offering pathways to inspiration, empowerment, and transformation. Each of Saadiyat Cultural District's institutions plays a distinct role. When Louvre Abu Dhabi presents a Bactrian 'princess' from 2,000 BCE beside a Tang Dynasty ceramic and a Mondrian masterpiece, it affirms that creative brilliance transcends borders and eras. When the newly-opened teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi explores the fusion of art, science, and technology, it places the UAE at the center of tomorrow's narratives. And when Zayed National Museum tells the story of our transformation from a nation of pearl divers, farmers and traders, to a knowledge-driven economy, it offers a living model of resilience and reinvention. Yet the ambition of our cultural strategy reaches far beyond Saadiyat Cultural District. Across the emirate, a rich network of museums and cultural centers ensures that culture is deeply rooted in the identity and daily life of our communities. Qasr Al-Hosn, the oldest standing structure in Abu Dhabi, has been transformed into a living museum that tells the story of the capital's evolution from a fortified watchtower to a vibrant global city. In Al-Ain, the birthplace of our Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, both the Al-Ain Museum, established by Sheikh Zayed in 1971, and his former home, Al-Ain Palace Museum, stand as enduring symbols of our national identity. Together with Qasr Al-Muwaiji, which has played an important role in the history of the UAE, they reflect the values, vision, and leadership that continue to shape the nation's path forward. The newly-restored Al-Maqta Museum, housed in a historic watchtower, explores the defensive and maritime heritage of the region. Meanwhile, Delma Museum, located on one of the oldest continuously inhabited islands in the UAE, offers deep insights into the country's seafaring and pearling traditions. Each of these institutions is tailored to its community and context, enriching local pride while reinforcing a broader national narrative. They embody our belief that cultural heritage in Abu Dhabi should be celebrated everywhere, so that every visitor, from schoolchildren to scholars, can see themselves reflected in the stories they preserve and share. This approach continues the legacy of Sheikh Zayed who recognized long before the nation's formation that culture was essential to building a cohesive and forward-looking society. Not only to preserve the past, but to inspire future generations. That vision is more relevant today than ever before. We saw it take another step forward this year with the launch of the Abu Dhabi Collection. Curated over many years by DCT-Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Collection brings together thousands of works that reflect the depth and diversity of our shared heritage. Spanning continents, centuries, and civilizations, the collection affirms that culture is not fixed or finite. It moves across borders. It connects people. And it belongs to us all. As we navigate the complex terrain of the 21st century, from demographic shifts to climate challenges, from exponential technologies to multipolar geopolitics, culture offers something unique: the ability to convert uncertainty into possibility. It reminds us that every leap forward begins with imagination, and that every solution is rooted in human experience. On the occasion of this International Museum Day, Abu Dhabi reaffirms its belief in a future shaped not only by data or infrastructure, but by ideas, heritage, and human connection. Through investment in cultural institutions, creative industries, and community engagement, we not only preserve the past, we also empower the present and inspire the future. Because culture remains humanity's oldest survival strategy, as well as its most enduring source of hope.
