Latifa bint Mohammed attends the opening ceremony of the 2022 ICOM General Conference in Prague

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), and member of the Dubai Council, attended the opening ceremony of the 2022 International Council of Museums General Conference, in the Czech capital, Prague, accompanied by a high-level Emirati delegation that included: Her Excellency Reem Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation, Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, and a number of representatives of the cultural sector in the UAE.

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa, who is heading the country's delegation at the council's 26th conference for 2022 in Prague, called for enhancing knowledge exchange and cooperation during meetings with officials in the Czech Republic and a number of members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM).

The visit reinforced Dubai's ambition and commitment to promoting the emirate's creative economy, and its permanent endeavors to become a global center for the creative and cultural sector, in the run-up to Dubai's hosting of the 27th Conference of the International Council of Museums "Aecom" 2025, making it the first city in the Middle East and North region. Africa and South Asia hosting this prestigious international conference.

On this occasion, Her Highness Sheikha Latifa said: “The Emirate of Dubai has invested heavily in its cultural and creative industries, and museums are a central part of this system. It is a great honor for Dubai to be chosen as the host city for the ICOM 2025 conference, which will bring thousands of museum experts together. In the UAE, to discuss the development and future of this industry. The ideas shared during the Prague conference sessions and the rich discussions we had in the meetings around the conference are very important. We look forward to future cooperation that will enrich the culture and museum sector globally."

Her Highness added: "The Dubai government has invested more than one billion dirhams over the past five years to develop and rehabilitate historical sites in the emirate and its methodology to become an open museum, as Dubai and the UAE in general realize the value and importance of preserving cultural heritage and the role that museums play in this regard. We look forward in the UAE To welcome thousands of museum leaders and professionals from more than 120 countries, covering 20,000 international museums, and are delighted that Dubai is the first city in the MENASA region to host this conference.”

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed attended the opening ceremony of ICOM in Prague 2022 and a number of accompanying sessions, including keynote speeches and panel discussions.

Her Highness and the Emirati delegation also met with members of the Czech government, the International Council of Museums, and members of the Council in the Czech Republic, where they discussed ways to exchange experiences on Dubai being the host city for ICOM 2025, as well as explore potential opportunities for cooperation in the field of museums and the broader cultural sector.

The meeting included Andrej Krist, Deputy Minister of Culture, Jiri Solzenko, Director of the Department of Culture and Tourism in Prague;

Jiri Slavic, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the UAE; Peter Hennisdo, Director of the Department of International Relations - Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic;

Alberto Garlandini, President of the International Council of Museums;

Peter Keeler, Director General of the International Council of Museums;

Francesca Polisini, General Manager, Corporate Events, Aecom;

Gina Renottier, President of Aecom - Czech Branch;

Hana Testikova, Culture Adviser in Prague;

Martina Limanova, General Director of ICOM

Overland 2022;

Jan Holofsky, Head of the Museums Department - Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.

Alberto Garlandini, President of the International Council of Museums, said: “A rich cultural heritage blended with a pioneering spirit of innovation: this will be the driving force and transformation that ICOM Dubai 2025 will bring to the legacy of ICOM General Conferences. We are pleased to begin preparations with our colleagues at ICOM UAE and our partners, and look forward to Journey towards the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums.

It is worth noting that ICOM is the leading international organization of museum professionals, in order to protect and promote tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and the twenty-sixth International Council of Museums (ICOM) Conference for the year 2022 will be held in the Czech capital, Prague, under the slogan “The Power of Museums” from 20 to 20 August 28th.

The ICOM General Conference is held once every three years, and the next 27th edition is scheduled to be held in Dubai in 2025.

The UAE delegation from "Dubai Culture" includes Mona Faisal Al Gurg, Executive Director of the Culture and Heritage Sector, Maryam Al-Afridi, Executive Director of the President's Office, Maryam Muzaffar Ahli, Project Manager in the Museums Department, Engineer Rashad Bukhash, from Aecom UAE and many members of Aecom UAE

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