The harmony of tradition and modernity crowns the UAE as the first destination for cultural tourism in the region

Cultural tourism .. the soft power of the Emirates attracts millions of tourists

• During half a century, the UAE has drawn a cultural landscape in harmony with its humanitarian mission based on a mixture of tradition and modernity.

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Over half a century, the UAE has drawn a cultural landscape in line with its humanitarian mission based on a mixture of authenticity and modernity, benefiting from cultural and heritage diversity, and the amount of official support and investment at the level of building edifices and supporting talent, in creating a special case that qualified it to transform into one of the most prominent cultural tourism destinations in the region. and the world.

Experts consider that the future of cultural tourism in the UAE is full of hopes and promising growth opportunities, especially since culture has become one of the most prominent elements of the state’s soft power, and enjoys all forms of official sponsorship and support, in addition to the nature of the UAE, which has formed a unique global case of tolerance and embracing various The peoples and cultures of the world, within an ideal environment of coexistence and acceptance of the other.

Recent statistics revealed the growth of the number of small and medium enterprises covered by the cultural and creative industries sector in the country, which exceeded 36,000.

cultural renaissance

The Minister of Culture and Youth, Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, said, "The comprehensive cultural renaissance achieved by the UAE has contributed to strengthening the country's position as a global destination for cultural tourism in all its forms."

Al Kaabi pointed to the richness and diversity that characterize the cultural tourism experience in the UAE thanks to the integration of its elements, starting with archaeological and heritage sites and sites, passing through dozens of cultural and intellectual activities and events of a global nature hosted by the country annually, leading to dozens of built knowledge and artistic edifices.

"Cultural tourism today constitutes one of the vital sectors on which hopes are placed in supporting the local economy, thanks to its ability to attract millions of tourists from different countries of the world," she said.

She noted that the ministry is working on two important axes in its efforts to strengthen this sector: the first is historical heritage, which is concerned with caring for archaeological sites of historical value.

The second is contemporary modernity, and includes site tourism and cultural events such as art festivals and international cultural events.

She pointed to the importance of modern libraries, which are attracting visitors from all over the world to learn about their content and urban identity, such as the House of Wisdom in Sharjah and the Mohammed bin Rashid Library in Dubai.

She said that the number of small and medium enterprises covered by the cultural and creative industries sector in the country has reached, according to the latest statistics, more than 36,000 establishments, noting that the vision of the UAE government seeks to raise the contribution of this sector to the gross domestic product from 4.3% to 5% in the near future. .

Hopes and opportunities

Most of the elements and forms of cultural tourism are available in the UAE, which includes archaeological and historical sites, heritage villages, museums, libraries, theaters and art galleries, and a long list of conferences and cultural festivals hosted by the country throughout the year.

historical sites

The UAE is rich in archaeological sites that transport the visitor to various historical stages and civilizations. In the Al Ain region, sites such as Bida Bint Saud, Jebel Hafeet and Hili bear witness to the continuous human habitation in this desert region since the Neolithic era.

In turn, the Umm Al Nar site in Abu Dhabi made great discoveries that helped shed light on the life, culture and lifestyle of the people of the Emirates during the Bronze Age.

The archaeological site of Jumeirah is one of the most important Islamic archaeological sites dating back to the Abbasid era. It is located in the Emirate of Dubai near the seashore, and includes a number of stone buildings.

The site of Al-Maliha in the Emirate of Sharjah dates back to the period between 300 and 300 BC.

Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman are distinguished by their many castles and fortresses of different shapes that confirm their antiquity, their civilizational continuity and their penetration into history.

As for the site of Al-Akaab Island in Umm Al Quwain, it dates back to the Stone Ages 5000 BC, while the Al-Bidiyah Mosque in Fujairah dates back to the 15th century AD.

• 36 thousand establishments in the cultural and creative industries sector.

Noura Al Kaabi:

• “Cultural tourism is one of the vital sectors on which hopes are pinned to support the local economy.”

• "The comprehensive cultural renaissance has contributed to strengthening the state's position as a global destination for cultural tourism."

Events and activities

Cultural events and activities in the UAE do not know season or season.

It extends all days of the year, contributing to the formation of a unique cultural scene that everyone around the world aspires to see and participate in.

The UAE annually hosts hundreds of cultural and artistic activities, such as international book fairs such as the Sharjah and Abu Dhabi fairs, heritage festivals in various emirates, in addition to cultural summits, art and theatrical exhibitions, as well as plastic arts exhibitions and a long list of scheduled events and events.

rarest pieces

For those looking for the rarest archaeological pottery and animal figurines, the Sharjah Museum is the ideal destination for them, especially with the antiquities it contains dating back to the Stone Age before the advent of Islam, while the Ajman Museum represents a lofty fortress immortalizing the relics of ancestors and narrating their walk through many archaeological artifacts.

It is located in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain, one of the oldest museums in the Emirates, which dates back more than 200 years, and in the Ras Al Khaimah National Museum, the visitor finds himself in the midst of a history that extends back to 5000 years with its accurate events, while the Fujairah Museum is one of the most prominent in the Emirates.

Museums

Museums have constituted an added value to the tourist attraction in the UAE, especially after the great development they witnessed and with which they turned into prestigious cultural platforms at the regional and global levels.

Museums in all UAE regions have become an essential stop on the schedule of tourists coming from outside and inside the country. In Abu Dhabi, the Louvre Museum, since its opening in November 2017, has given a strong impetus to the tourism movement at the state level, while the Museum of the Future welcomes visitors of all ages, and invites them to imagine and design the future. and implement it.

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