The UAE has hailed the efforts of Arab nations to forge a shared cultural identity, at a conference in Saudi Arabia.
Mubarak Al Nakhi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Youth, stressed the need for the region to come together to bolster dialogue, co-existence, peace and brotherhood.
He delivered his hopeful message at the 23rd session of the Conference of Arab Culture Ministers on Friday, in Riyadh.
During the opening ceremony, Mr Al Nakhi handed over the presidency of the conference to Prince Badr bin Abdullah, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Culture and chairman of the National Committee for Education, Culture and Science.
The previous summit was held the Dubai International Exhibition Centre, on the sidelines of Expo 2020 Dubai.
Mr Al Nakhi spoke of how Arab countries had already united on efforts to secure further regional representation in Unesco heritage lists and to develop creative industries.
“We developed a number of programmes during the last session and focused on several pressing issues,” said Mr Al Nakhi.
“The most prominent of which was to review and update the comprehensive plan for Arab culture, which the UAE was honoured to support.
“We firmly believe in the importance of enriching Arab culture and preserving the national and civilisational identity of our homeland.”
“The United Arab Emirates adopted a number of recommendations, such as emphasising the success of the efforts made during the Covid-19 pandemic, which contributed to the continuity of cultural work.
“We also implemented several cultural initiatives, fostering communication between Arab countries, and calling upon them to adopt a policy of digital transformation.
“There is a need to digitise cultural content in anticipation of any emergency. We are harnessing modern technology to serve the cultural movement and mobilise joint Arab cultural work in that direction.”
Mr Al Nakhi expressed his confidence that Saudi Arabia will help the region to reach its cultural goals in the year to come.
The conference is typically held every two years and was first hosted in Amman in 1976.
Arab world united in support of Morocco
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Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi of Morocco celebrate after their penalty shoot-out victory in the World Cup last-16 match against Spain at Education City Stadium on December 6, 2022. Getty -
Morocco's players celebrate after their 3-0 penalty shoot-out victory. Getty -
Morocco's Achraf Hakimi celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning penalty. AFP -
Morocco goalkeeper Bono saves from Sergio Busquets of Spain during the penalty shoot-out. EPA -
Dejected Spain players after the match. AFP -
Morocco players celebrate the win. AFP -
Achraf Hakimi of Morocco celebrates after the team's victory in the penalty shoot-out against Spain. Getty -
Achraf Hakimi of Morocco scores the team's fourth and winning penalty in the shoot-out against Spain. Getty -
Morocco's Achraf Hakimi scores the winning penalty. Reuters -
Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon watches Morocco's Achraf Hakimi's winning penalty hits the back of the net. AP -
Goalkeeper Bono of Morocco saves the third penalty by Sergio Busquets of Spain. Getty -
Morocco players react after goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saves a penalty from Spain's Carlos Soler. PA -
Morocco's Hakim Ziyech scores a penalty shoot-out. AP -
Bono of Morocco makes a save against a penalty by Carlos Soler of Spain in the penalty shoot-out. Getty -
Unai Simon of Spain makes a save against Walid Cheddira of Morocco. Getty -
Spain's Marco Asensio hits the side netting with a shot. AP -
Spain's Marco Asensio after hitting the side netting with an attempt on goal. AFP -
Morocco keeper Bono punches the ball clear. Getty -
Morocco goalkeeper Bono is put under pressure by Marco Asensio of Spain. Getty -
Morocco's Nayef Aguerd heads a good chance over the bar. AP -
Morocco's Nayef Aguerd heads the ball over the bar. AFP -
Noussair Mazraoui of Morocco battles for possession with Ferran Torres of Spain. Getty -
Youssef En-Nesyri, Sergio Busquets and Nayef Aguerd challenge for the ball. EPA -
Morocco's Noussair Mazraoui and Spain's Ferran Torres battle. AP -
Spain's forward Marco Asensio fights for the ball with Morocco's Romain Ghanem Saiss. AFP -
Morocco keeper Bono saves a shot by Spain's Gavi. AP -
Spain manager Luis Enrique talks to Gavi. EPA -
Morocco keeper Bono tips a shot from Spain's Gavi on to the bar. Getty -
Spain's Gavi talks to Argentinian referee Fernando Rapallini after fouling Morocco's Sofiane Boufal. AFP -
Spain's Dani Olmo grimaces in pain. AP -
Spain's Aymeric Laporte challenges for the ball against Morocco's Walid Cheddira. AP -
Morocco's Nayef Aguerd walks off the pitch after picking up an injury. AP -
Morocco midfielder Hakim Ziyech talks with coach Walid Regragui. AFP -
Morocco's goalkeeper Bono punches clear. AFP -
Aymeric Laporte of Spain is booked. EPA
The unity of the Arab world has been highlighted by the outpouring of support for Morocco during their history-making run to the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar.
The Atlas Lions face Portugal on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals of the competition.
“We have a whole people behind us, a continent behind us and the Arab world behind us,” said Morocco manager Walid Regragui.
“That's a lot of energy behind us. We're going to try and do everything we can.”
