Anwar Gargash: Emirati values can help forge new perspectives about Arab culture

Diplomatic adviser’s speech at Culture Summit Abu Dhabi focuses on importance of UAE identity and integrity

Dr Anwar Gargash speaking at the final day of Culture Summit Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

The UAE is in a unique position to produce a modern perspective on Arab culture, Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the President, said during his speech at the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi.

“By virtue of the more than two million Arabs living here and our country's growing soft power we should also aim to make use of our rich diversity beyond national or Arab cultural aspirations," Dr Gargash said while discussing the importance of conserving and harnessing Emirati identity and culture.

“The UAE is a nation built on exchanges, tolerance and open mindedness toward different people and cultures. These are powerful elements of our national identity. Even before unification, our society embraced people from diverse backgrounds with a genuine desire to exchange knowledge so that we could harness the best of everyone's talents and appreciate points of commonality.”

Speaking on Tuesday at the summit held at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Dr Gargash noted that with the recent celebration of the country’s 50th anniversary and Expo 2020 Dubai last year, the UAE has achieved plenty to be proud of for a country so young. He said that while a contemporary UAE has a distinct Emirati identity, it also has a cosmopolitan outlook and is a melting pot of cultures.

“The UAE is home to people from all over the world,” he said.

“Our nation continues to be shaped and strengthened by the strong culture we have collectively which has propelled us to global influence in areas like education, trade and technology.”

The art world was used as an example of the UAE’s regional and global perspective that still maintains close ties to its heritage and links to the Arab world.

“If a visitor goes to Cairo, Beirut or Baghdad, they will most likely be exposed to the modern national art for those countries,” he said.

“Yet in the UAE, modern Arab art has a wider lens that includes whole countries I’ve mentioned and others.”

Scroll through the gallery below to see more photos from the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi

Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, founder of Barjeel Art Foundation, takes part in the discussion on the third and final day of Culture Summit Abu Dhabi. All photos: Victor Besa / The National

Manal Ataya, director general at Sharjah Museums Authority, also took part in the panel.

Maya Allison, executive director and chief curator at the NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery, joined the discussion.

A panellist speaks during the event.

The New Canon was one of the panels held on day three of the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi.

Famed pianist, composer and educator Danilo Perez waves to the crowd.

Former minister and now diplomatic advisor Anwar Gargash. Victor Besa / The National

Visitors were treated to a traditional Al Ayala dance, where performers hold thin bamboo canes and move to steady drum rhythms.

Al Ayala is often performed at weddings and other celebrations.

Chris Dercon in conversation with architect Sir David Adjaye.

A session on Taking Bollywood Global: Dynamics of Diversity, moderated by Hans Fraikin, Abu Dhabi Film Commissioner.

Kabir Khan, director of '83', in the conversation on Bollywood.

Taking Bollywood Global: Dynamics of Diversity - Aashish Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Lyca Productions.

Andre Timmins, founder and director of Wizcraft and IIFA, as part of the discussion on Bollywood.

A member of the audience watching a panel called 'Taking Bollywood Global: Dynamics of Diversity'.

Day three of the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi opened with a traditional performance from the mountain regions.

The event was a meeting of minds, with visitors from across various sectors sharing their thoughts on the post-Covid cultural world.

Omar Saif Ghobash, UAE ambassador to Vatican, speaks at the event.

Grammy Award-winning producer Jimmy Jam discussed the regional music scene.

Mohamed Al Mubarak in conversation with Frank Gehry, Architect, Gehry Partners.

Robot artist Ai-Da, left, in conversation with The National's Hareth Al Bustani, far right, with her creator Aidan Meller, looking on.

Performance by Iraqi oud virtuoso Naseer Shamma.

The audience listens to Mohamed Al Mubarak in conversation with Frank Gehry, Architect, Gehry Partners.

Harvey Mason Jr, chief executive of Recording Academy, lecturing on 'Music and Influence on Global Culture'.

An attendee on day two of the Culture Summit in Abu Dhabi.

A discussion on 'Mentoring for Impact', with moderator Fiammetta Rocco, senior editor and culture editor of The Economist, and speakers Erica Love, director of Culture Central, Eric Wainaina, artist and founder of The Nairobi Musical Theatre Initiative, and Gael Hedding, director of Berklee Abu Dhabi.

A peformance of 'The Roots' by French Algerian choreographer Kader Attou, a dance performance in which he returns to the origins of hip-hop with an acrobatic celebration of the genre. Eleven dancers perform different facets of the former underground culture and show how the body can bend to different beats: from breakdance to Smurf, electric boogie to popping.

A discussion on 'AI and the Future of Culture', with moderator Priya Khanchandani, head of curatorial + interpretation at the Design Museum, and speakers Aidan Meller, director of Ai-Da Robot and Oxfordians, and Suhair Khan, founder and director of Open/Ended Design.

Artificial intelligence-powered robot artist Ai-Da at the Culture Summit in Abu Dhabi. Ai-Da's work reflects human aesthetic tastes and the conditions by which they are shaped.

Ai-Da in conversation with Tim Marlow, chief executive and director of London's Design Museum, who analysed the creative philosophy of the world’s first humanoid artist.

Mr Marlow introduces Ai-Da at the summit.

Eyal Weizman, director of research agency Forensic Architecture, speaks on the use of technology such as machine learning, as well as the importance of modelling and simulations.

UAE Minister of Culture and Youth Noura Al Kaabi gives the keynote address.

This year’s Culture Summit will be attended by 1,000 people while another 5,000 will take part online.

The summit seeks to identify ways in which culture can transform societies and communities around the globe.

The conference brings together decision makers in culture, heritage, public policy and technology, as well as artists, thinkers and performers from around the world.

The summit is now in its fifth year.

It is organised by Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism.

The theme of this year's event is 'A Living Culture'.

The summit has returned with a more extensive programme.

UAE Minister of Culture and Youth, Noura Al Kaabi at the summit.

In-person attendance returned to the event after it moved online for two years owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In only five years, the summit has grown from a noble idea into a staple of the international cultural calendar.

Mohamed Al Mubarak, chairman of DCT — Abu Dhabi, arrives with Steve Harvey.

Zaki Nusseibeh, cultural adviser to the President, attends the event.

Mr Nusseibeh moderated a discussion on 'The role of culture in making resilient and shared societies', featuring former Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite, former Malawian president Joyce Banda and former Croatian president Ivo Josipovic.

Mr Al Mubarak makes the welcome speech and opening remarks.

Ms Banda, former president of Malawi, takes part in the discussion moderated by Mr Nusseibeh.

Dr Gargash suggested that as a nation, the UAE should harness its unique diverse fabric and continue to strive towards forming a distinctive cultural identity, one that is strongly rooted in its values and the region, but one that is open to the world and has international appeal and lasting influence.

While addressing the many feats the UAE has achieved over the last 50 years, which include a commitment to the well-being of the diverse population, innovation, women’s empowerment, economic development and tolerance of other religions and cultures, Dr Gargash asserted these achievements were rooted in Emirati values and will carry the country through future challenges.

He spoke not only of the complexities of living through a global economic fallout owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, but of other transnational challenges such as food security, health and climate change.

He emphasised that understanding other countries, cultures and people, as well as forging alliances on political economic issues through open dialogue, was the only way forward.

“To overcome these challenges, we must expand our capacity for cooperative behaviour,” he said.

“As societies and individuals, we are stronger working together and there is much we can learn from one another. And we must recognise these challenges as opportunities to use our abilities to the fullest and take charge of our future.”

Dr Gargash made special mention of the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (Cop 28), scheduled to take place in Dubai next year, where countries can address these challenges together.

“Climate change is an issue where all countries have an interest in finding a practical solution,” he said.

“And where the road to success lies in building trust, cooperation and understanding between nations, respecting each other's perspective, but forging a common way forward. This is why the UAE is so well placed to make the success of this so vitally important.”

The Emirati values of openness, tolerance, innovation and hospitality, Dr Gargash noted in his speech, have also been embodied and materialised into form with the Abrahamic Family House on Saadiyat Island, which will include a mosque, church and synagogue. Architect Sir David Adjaye was also in attendance.

While still under construction, Dr Gargash noted the significance of the site, saying it will “serve as a powerful representation of shared histories and values, and the power of dialogue over division".

Echoed throughout his speech was the message that, while the UAE has evolved over the last 50 years and is forging a path as a nation with a vital voice in the international community, it must always remain in touch with its culture and identity.

“We may have traded pearls and spices for modern day technologies but we must never forget our roots, as they have made us who we are today," he said.