The Heritage Council held its second meeting in Umm Al Quwain in the presence of Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi,  Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, Sheikh Majid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, the chairman  of  Umm Al Quwain Department of Tourism and Antiquities, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Humaid Al Nu’aimi, the chairman  of Ajman Department of Tourism Development and a number of the honorable members of the Council.

Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development emphasized that preservation of the cultural heritage of all forms is a national and humanitarian necessity and a fundamental pillar of the Ministry’s strategy. As this heritage is a source of pride of our ancestors’ civilizations, which tells the current generations about the bright, glorious moments and events in the journey of our country. Since no nation can advance without maintaining its culture and human heritage.

Noura Al Kaabi indicated to the significance of the joint coordination and planning between all active local entities engaged in the local heritage landscape. She added that the Council today reviewed the five-year plan for registering the components and elements of the cultural heritage, with both of its tangible and intangible prongs, on the lists of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization “UNESCO”. The registration process is a complicated and long one, which requires cooperation and combination of efforts of all parties, in order to prepare the files required in accordance with the highest standards adopted by this international organization. She also stated that the UAE has a long record of registration of heritage components, whether through national files or a joint file with other countries.

1. E. Salma Al Darmaki, the assistant undersecretary of knowledge and Cultural Policies Sector, provided an explanation of the Federal Law No.1 of 2017, in respect of antiquities, which aims to preserve the immovable antiquities in the UAE, in order to promote the national identity and preserve the cultural heritage, as well as to carry out archaeological excavations to revive and enrich the national heritage of the UAE. Mrs. Salma Al Darmaki also stated that the Ministry sent the Executive By law to the partners for reviewing and providing remarks and comments thereon.

In addition, Mrs. Salma Al Darmaki presented the project of cultural data and statistics, which aims to provide accurate data and information on all parties engaged in the cultural sector, the matter that will help the decision makers to make proper decisions and to promulgate the policies and legislations needed for the cultural sector in the UAE.

Moreover, the Council discussed a set of the cultural projects to be executed at Expo Dubai 2020, which aim to highlight the aspects of the UAE and Islamic culture and arts to the delegations and visitors of Expo exhibition, due to the importance of this international forum, which will be the destination of millions of visitors.

This meeting was attended by H. E.  Mubarak Al Nakhi, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, Salem Al Qassimi, the assistant undersecretary of Heritage and Arts Sector, Saleh Al Jazairi, the director general of Ajman Department of Tourism Development,  Dr. Ahmad Khalifa Al Shamsi, director general of Fujairah Tourism and Antiquities Authority,  Ahmad Obaid Al Tunaiji,  director general of Ras Al Khaimah Department of Antiquities and Museums, Ahmad Mohammed Abdul Kareem, the executive director of Support services Sector of Dubai Municipality, Dha’en Shaheen, an  advisor at Dubai Culture & Arts Authority , Hamdan Karam Al Kaabi , adviser to the chairman  of Fujairah Culture and Media Authority, Ayesha Rashid Al Shamsi,  director of Arabic Heritage Center and Issa Yusuf, Director  of Department of Antiquities and Tangible Heritage of Sharjah Antiquities Authority.