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UAE’s Salem Al Qassimi Stresses Culture’s Role in Sustainable Development

UAE Minister of Culture Shaikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi. WAM
UAE Minister of Culture Shaikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi. WAM
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UAE’s Salem Al Qassimi Stresses Culture’s Role in Sustainable Development

UAE Minister of Culture Shaikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi. WAM
UAE Minister of Culture Shaikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi. WAM

UAE Minister of Culture Shaikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi emphasized the UAE's commitment to integrating culture into sustainable development and climate action, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

The Minister's remarks came during his participation at the G20 Culture Ministers' Meeting in Salvador, Di Bahia, Brazil, WAM said Wednesday.

Addressing the meeting, Al Qassimi said that the UAE has been galvanizing global cooperation to mainstream culture as a key enabler of sustainable development. He also stressed the UAE's leading role in promoting a culture of climate action and as a lever for inclusive and equitable economic growth.

"Culture not only preserves heritage but also provides innovative solutions to complex global issues, including climate change. As we face an evolving climate, culture strengthens our resilience against these challenges,” he said.

The Minister highlighted the UAE and Brazil's joint efforts in creating the Group of Friends for Culture-Based Climate Action (GFCBCA) and the support the group has received since its launch at COP28 last year.

"This coalition symbolizes our dedication to addressing climate challenges through a cultural lens, and we are grateful to the many partners who have joined this mission. We are especially proud that both the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience and the GFCBCA were included in the declaration, highlighting the importance of integrating cultural and resilient approaches to climate action on a global scale," he added.

The Minister also pointed out that measuring the contribution of the cultural and creative industries is of utmost importance as it is essential to tailor regulations and incentives that nurture the creative sector. "Data insights reveal emerging trends, consumer preferences, and areas for innovation."

"We are working with global partners to bolster mechanisms to collect data from the creative sector and leverage it to guide the future direction of CCI. Our dedication to nurturing creativity is not only about economic growth but about securing the legacy and identity of our communities for generations to come," WAM quoted him as saying.

A delegation from the Ministry of Culture actively participated in the fourth Culture Working Group (CWG) meeting. The UAE contributed to discussions on four priority areas: Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property, Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future, Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries, and Leveraging Digital Technologies for Culture, all of which informed the G20 Culture Ministers' Declaration.

By focusing discussions on culture in the four topics above, the countries gathered in the G20 Culture Working Group will be able to deepen their understanding of the challenges and possibilities of culture in a constantly changing world. The panels were designed to provide countries with the means to improve their public policies and national actions.

The CWG discussions are expected to foster new degrees of understanding and partnerships between countries, advancing principles such as promoting peace, sustainable and inclusive development, dialogue, and common understanding for the benefit of all.

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Culture

Aseer’s Traditional Mud Houses Stand as Symbols of Cultural Heritage

The projects form part of a broader range of initiatives launched by the Heritage Commission - SPA
The projects form part of a broader range of initiatives launched by the Heritage Commission - SPA
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Aseer’s Traditional Mud Houses Stand as Symbols of Cultural Heritage

The projects form part of a broader range of initiatives launched by the Heritage Commission - SPA
The projects form part of a broader range of initiatives launched by the Heritage Commission - SPA

Mud houses in Aseer Region represent one of the most distinctive elements of the region's traditional architectural heritage, and they have been closely connected to the local environment, serving as an architectural model uniquely adapted to the region’s terrain.

While these houses were traditionally built using simple mud-and-stone construction methods, they are now experiencing a revival through restoration projects that employ the same natural materials with greater precision and craftsmanship.

According to SPA, traditionally, mud-house construction consisted of two principal stages. The first involved building stone foundations to safeguard the structure against dampness, while the second focused on preparing and applying mud made from cohesive soil mixed with water and agricultural byproducts, including straw.

The projects form part of a broader range of initiatives launched by the Heritage Commission to preserve the urban landscape and strengthen local identity.

These efforts have contributed to the revitalization of numerous villages and mud-brick houses through restoration programs that use the same traditional clay mixtures. The programs also incorporate modern molding techniques to improve efficiency while preserving the structures' original character.

Preserving traditional construction methods is essential to maintaining the unique climatic qualities of mud-brick houses, which provide effective thermal insulation and help regulate indoor temperatures naturally.

Culture

Lebanon Heritage Site Damaged by Israeli Bombardment

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a neighborhood in the southern Lebanese coastal city of Tyre on June 7, 2026. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP)
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a neighborhood in the southern Lebanese coastal city of Tyre on June 7, 2026. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP)
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Lebanon Heritage Site Damaged by Israeli Bombardment

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a neighborhood in the southern Lebanese coastal city of Tyre on June 7, 2026. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP)
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a neighborhood in the southern Lebanese coastal city of Tyre on June 7, 2026. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP)

Israeli bombardment has damaged a World Heritage site in Lebanon's southern city of Tyre, a culture ministry official told AFP on Monday, as correspondents there saw debris and damage.

One of the oldest cities on the Mediterranean coast, Tyre lies around 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the Israeli border, and its UNESCO World Heritage listed ruins are located in two main areas of the city.

Israel's military has heavily bombed Tyre since the latest war erupted with Hezbollah, and on Sunday it issued a further evacuation warning that covered districts including one of the archaeological areas, known as the city site, which is home to Roman ruins.

AFP correspondents on Monday saw dust and debris close to ancient columns after the previous day's bombardment, as well as twisted metal and broken tree branches near several stone artefacts.

Concrete and metal debris also appeared to have been strewn onto a stone stairway.

Ali Badawi, regional director of archaeological sites for south Lebanon in the culture ministry, said Sunday's bombardment had had "the worst impact" on Tyre's ancient areas since the war began.

"The amount of debris and damage at the site is high," he said, noting both the direct impact, with the site's administrative office struck, and the indirect impact of debris strewn from nearby bombardment.

"Some archaeological artefacts were damaged when rubble fell on them, as debris fell over a large area, impacting a large number of elements at the site -- columns, capitals, column bases, mosaics," he said.

He said a preliminary damage assessment was underway but noted experts were not at the site due to the danger, adding that UNESCO had been notified.

Since a previous round of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah which erupted in 2023, UNESCO has granted more than 70 heritage sites in Lebanon, including Tyre, "provisional enhanced protection," the organisation's highest level of legal protection.

"This is a civilian site, a World Heritage site, it's not a military site at all, and there are no military activities there," Badawi said.

He noted the other part of the site in Tyre, Al-Bass, had been damaged earlier in the conflict.

Late last month, Lebanon's Culture Minister Ghassan Salame told AFP that Israeli strikes on the country's south were putting heritage sites in "serious danger".

Culture

Saudi Arabia Concludes Participation at Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair

Through its pavilion, Saudi Arabia presented an integrated cultural showcase combining literature, arts, heritage, and knowledge. (SPA)
Through its pavilion, Saudi Arabia presented an integrated cultural showcase combining literature, arts, heritage, and knowledge. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Concludes Participation at Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair

Through its pavilion, Saudi Arabia presented an integrated cultural showcase combining literature, arts, heritage, and knowledge. (SPA)
Through its pavilion, Saudi Arabia presented an integrated cultural showcase combining literature, arts, heritage, and knowledge. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia's Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission concluded the Kingdom’s participation as guest of honor at the 2026 Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair, held from May 29 to June 7.

Through its pavilion, led by the commission, Saudi Arabia presented an integrated cultural showcase combining literature, arts, heritage, and knowledge.

The diverse program included literary and cultural seminars, alongside artistic and performance displays, traditional crafts, heritage fashion, rare manuscripts, and replica artifacts.

Activities also extended to public spaces and shopping centers across Kuala Lumpur to broaden cultural outreach, in addition to hosting the Saudi Dinner Night, which brought together senior officials, diplomats, intellectuals, and media figures.

The Saudi pavilion highlighted the Kingdom’s growing cultural movement in literature, publishing, and translation, with contributions from several national entities, presenting a rich image of Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape that was praised by visitors and participating institutions.