Omar Saif Ghobash says UAE supports a broader set of cultural movements

The Emirati diplomat and author made a speech at the final day of the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi

Omar Saif Ghobash, UAE Ambassador to the Vatican, delivered the opening speech of the final day of Culture Summit Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

What constitutes Emirati culture needs to be re-examined, Omar Saif Ghobash, UAE ambassador to Vatican and Letters to a Young Muslim author, said during his speech on the final day of Culture Summit Abu Dhabi.

“I see that there are general directions for considering and determining what constitutes culture in the Emirates,” said Ghobash. “First can we have those members of our society who limit culture to ancient arts that predate the discovery of oil — songs, poetry, the culture surrounding pearling diving, desert crossing and ancient forts. It is much to be admired and enjoyed.”

However, while there is great value in bolstering the country’s traditional heritage, Ghobash said it shouldn’t come at the expense of pigeonholing what qualifies as Emirati culture. There is another tendency in local society, he says, and that is to be open to the country’s present moment.

“This is a culture that recognises that Emirati doesn't mean just the passport holder, as it once used to," he said. "This version of what our culture is includes everyone now who lives and breathes and works here. This is when our leaders begin publicly speaking about Emirati society as opposed to Emirati citizens, with the emphasis on all being included, irrespective of religion or ethnicity.

“This is an Emirati culture that says: ‘We are who we are because you are here with us’. Because we all created this society together and because we aren’t afraid of difference and change and mixing things up. It's a culture that needs to be recognised more fully. It's a culture that reflects a specific mentality, and a mentality that has its roots in the wisdom of our elders.”

This openness to change and willingness to adapt and grow dates further back than many may think, Ghobash said. The country’s founding fathers did not have the material wealth or educational resources that many today benefit from, but Ghobash said they did have “a sense of justice”.

“They brought together a strong identity and pragmatism,” he said. “When members of the tribe objected to outsiders in their presence, our founding fathers eased their fears and calmed their anger in order for all of us to benefit.

“Outsiders would certainly affect our self-understanding, and with time, our identities would begin to mix with that of the other. The founders knew it would all work out. From the early Canadian missionaries in Abu Dhabi and the Indian and Pakistani traders in the other Emirates all the way to the policies of today where all are welcome.

“We should celebrate our traditional customs and practices. A new generation of Emiratis might come to these traditions and rediscover them in a new way, maybe add to them. At the same time, we support a broader set of cultural movements. Our culture evolves beyond our control, and we should delight in its twists and turns.”

Scroll through the gallery below to see more from days one and two of 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.