Dubai to host world’s largest conference on museums in 2025

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has won the bid to host the 27th International Council of Museums (ICOM) General Conference 2025 in Dubai. It will be held under the theme: ‘The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities’. The UAE won the bid vote in a final round with bids from Stockholm (Sweden) and from Kazan (Russia). Dubai will become the first city in the Middle East and North Africa to organise this international conference since ICOM’s establishment in 1946. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice-president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, tweeted that Dubai’s securing of ICOM 2025, with an anticipated attendance of 119 countries, covering 20,000 international museums, would give a strong impetus to the country’s cultural sector. “Our international museums in our beloved emirate and our national museums throughout the country will lead the global debate on the future of museums at this huge international conference,” His Highness said, adding: “We would like to thank Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and Member of the Dubai Council, Dubai Culture, Dubai Municipality and Dubai Tourism for their efforts to host the global event.” Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, said: “We are proud that the UAE and Dubai have been chosen to organise this conference, which is the largest cultural gathering of its kind in the world in the field of museums. Hosting ICOM 2025, the largest cultural gathering of its kind, constitutes a valuable opportunity to shed light on the historical and civilisational dimension of the UAE and Dubai and to present our history, heritage and culture to the world at the highest standards and levels.” His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, director general of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, added: “Dubai’s hosting of ICOM 2025 reaffirms the emirate’s position as a capital of Arab and international excellence and that its investment over decades in pioneering thought, within a competitive race approach, was able to cement its position on the creative and innovation map. ICOM General Conference is held once every three years. Its 25th edition was held in 2019 in Kyoto, Japan, and the 26th edition is scheduled to be held in Prague, Czech Republic in 2022. Founded in 1946 under the umbrella of the United Nations, ICOM is a global organisation specialised in the field of museums, their development and coordination. Its membership includes more than 50,000 specialists from nearly 120 countries, and nearly 20,000 museums around the world.