The seventh edition of the Abu Dhabi Cultural Summit 2025 continues its busy agenda, featuring keynote speeches, cultural performances, panel discussions, workshops, and creative dialogues.
During the summit, His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, the Minister of Culture, emphasized in his speech that in an age shaped by digital innovations and artificial intelligence, culture remains our constant guide, significantly contributing to the transformation of ideas into actions, inspiring communities, and ensuring creativity remains at the core of human progress.
Through numerous initiatives, including the National Policy for the Preservation of Modern Architectural Heritage and the National Strategy for Culture and Creative Industries, alongside new platforms supporting the arts and intellectual property, we take pride in investing in a thriving cultural ecosystem for future generations.
One of the key events held on the second day of the summit was the ministerial dialogue for Mondiacult 2025, organized by UNESCO and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. Participating ministers engaged in a dynamic discussion on how new technologies and artificial intelligence are reshaping the production and consumption of arts and culture, addressing the implications for rights holders and human creativity.
In his welcoming remarks on the first day of the summit, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, stated that we gather today under the theme “Culture for Humanity and Beyond,” drawing inspiration from the words of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, who urged a reevaluation of the role of culture in the era of unprecedented technological and societal transformations.
International Recognition
Additionally, ministers and officials from Kazakhstan, Colombia, and Latvia praised the Abu Dhabi Cultural Summit as an important strategic platform for discussing cultural identity issues and the challenges distinguishing different cultures. Aida Balayeva, the Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, stated that the Abu Dhabi Cultural Summit is a unique strategic platform for addressing contemporary cultural and artistic issues.
Yennay Kadamani, the Minister of Culture, Arts, and Knowledge in Colombia, noted the summit’s importance in discussing cultural identity challenges. Meanwhile, Baiba Moņiņa, Deputy Minister of Cultural Policy in Latvia, highlighted the role of culture in building peace and fostering understanding among nations and expressed admiration for the cultural experiences in the United Arab Emirates.