for
more information, visit Department of
Cultural &
Information
Introduction
Cultural identity in the UAE is a
rich blend of traditional Arab, Islamic and contemporary
elements. Following the foundation of the state and the
increased availability of educational opportunities private
and public cultural centers and libraries began to spring up
around the country, helping to promote cultural awareness
and assisting in the preservation of the country’s rich
heritage. The main objective of the Ministry of Information
and Culture is to promote and support the country's cultural
activities at home and abroad. The Ministry has under its
administration 11 public libraries throughout the state's
seven emirates. This is in addition to 30 cultural groups,
which perform dance, drama and music during festivals,
exhibitions and ceremonies in the UAE or held outside the
country. The Ministry's Cultural Department also plays an
important role, publishing books related to heritage,
culture art and theatre, organizing lectures, seminars and
other cultural activities and participating in international
book fairs. The Ministry 's Exhibitions Department
participates in international exhibitions which serve to
introduce the UAE’s rich heritage to a global
audience.
CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
Prominent cultural centers and organizations
are: the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi, the
Cultural and Scientific Fo rum in Dubai, the Department of
Culture and Information in Sharjah, the Fujairah Cultural Organization, the Studies and Archives
Center in Ras
al-Khaimah, and the Juma Al Majid Center. Significant too in
the promotion of cultural activities are annual awards such
as the Sultan Al Owais Award, the Sheikha Latifa bint
Mohammed bin Rashid Award and the Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza
Award. Other institutions which continue to make meaningful
contributions to cultural awareness include the National
Heritage Revival Organization and the Marriage
Fund.
The Cultural Foundation in Abu
Dhabi is made up of three major institutions, the Arts and
Culture Establishment, the National Library and the National
Archives. Recently, the Center for Documentation and
Research, which was originally part of the Cultural
Foundation, has transferred to the President’s Office. The
National Library contains a large collection of books known
as the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Library, a significant
collection of manuscripts and an online database. Its
publishing section has in recent times been very active,
issuing a wide selection of books on science, art, heritage
and historical subjects. There is also a section for the
production of compact discs, audio and videocassettes of
selected programmes and publications.
In Dubai the Culture and
Scientific Fo rum has organized a number of cultural
activities, including the annual Rashid Award which honors UAE graduates with distinctions in various subjects. Sharjah
has a wide range of cultural institutions. Notable among
them is the Department of Culture and Information which organizes
the annual book fair in November. It also organizes annual cultural and technical festivals for
children and the Sharjah Arts Biennial, an international
event which attracts artists from all over the
world.
Other cultural events include the
Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity. In recognition of
Sharjah's outstanding role in promoting Arab and Islamic
culture the emirate was chosen by the Arab League as the
Arab City of Culture in 1998. In Fujairah an active cultural
role is being played by the Fujairah Cultural Organization with the assistance of lectures and seminars. The Ras
al-Khaimah Studies and Archives Center is another
institution whose cultural role in the country cannot be
over emphasized. The center aims to present to the world the
true picture of the Arabian Gulf and its history, a target
also set for the Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Center for
Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) which specializes in
the analysis of local and international issues.
To consolidate the drive for
cultural awareness among the country's youth a number of
sports and cultural clubs were set up in addition to
newspapers, magazines, radio and TV channels which enriched
the artistic and cultural life of the community. Substantial
capital investment has also been made in establishing
state-of-the art museums, as well as renovating and
conserving historic monuments and sites.
EMIRATES
CENTER FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES AND
RESEARCH
The ECSSR, founded in 1994, has
the biggest specialist library in the country and has
produced a large number of books on subjects such as
politics, economics, defence, science and environment. In
particular, the ECSSR’s efforts in conducting dialogue and
analyzing political, economic and social issues pertinent to
the UAE, the Gulf and the Arab world, were highlighted in
the center's annual book released in December 1998. The center
attracts a wide range of specialists who are assigned
to study and analyze issues of vital importance to the state
and to propose possible strategies to manage such issues.
The ECSSR's aim is to promote global exchange of ideas and
it welcomes association with like-minded institutions around
the world. The center also aims to develop the analytical
and research skills of UAE nationals so that they will be
equipped to manage the ever increasing complexities of the
future. To achieve its goals the ECSSR has held conferences,
hosted academic gatherings and encouraged scholarly research
in the four years since its inception.
The center is also establishing
an electronic database that will serve as a comprehensive
source of information on issues of importance to the Gulf
region.
MUSEUMS AND
HERITAGE VILLAGES
The UAE has a wide range of
museums and heritage villages which provide a fascinating
introduction to its traditional lifestyle, offering a host
of authentic experiences, such as an evening sitting around
a campfire drinking gahwah (Arabic coffee) while a
camp guide describes bedouin crafts and customs. Other
experiences capture the ancient techniques and traditional
culture associated with village life, boating and pearl
diving through reconstructions of dhows, old souqs
(marketplaces), winter settlements and date
gardens.
Several of the emirates’
magnificent old forts house museums full of items of
archaeo-logical, natural history and ethnographic interest.
Here too, one can find vivid reconstructions of town and
country life. Other purpose-built museums use the latest
interactive media to tell the story of the country’s ancient
past or illustrate the wonders of nature. Audio-visual
displays, computer games and scaled models of ancient
settlements have all been utilized to interpret the past and
the present.
In Dubai and Sharjah, whole
streets have been restored to their former glory.
Particularly interesting in terms of vernacular architecture
are windrowers which are designed to catch even the
slightest bre eze and funnel the cooler air down to the
court y a rd houses, providing the visitor with first-hand
experience of this early form of air-conditioning. Narrow
streets wind between white-washed walls, with copper-studded
wooden doors giving access to shaded courtyards and
traditionally-furnished houses.
ZAYED
PRIZE FOR HERITAGE AND HISTORY
A recent development in the move
to preserve the country’s heritage is the creation of the
Zayed Prize for Heritage and History. This is to be awarded
for outstanding research conducted by individuals or
establishments on the heritage and history of the country.
The award has an important role to play in highlighting
local and Islamic heritage and researchers are urged to pay
attention to the documentation of heritage through seminars
and conferences.
THEATRE
INSTITUTE
The Sharjah Higher Institute for
Theatrical Arts (SHITA) was officially opened in March 1999
by HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of
Sharjah. The first of its kind in the UAE, SHITA was set up
by Dr Sheikh Sultan during the ‘Eight Sharjah Theatre Days
1998’ in an initiative to enhance the local theatrical
movement Located at the Arts Square in Old Sharjah, the new
building includes two theatres seating 280 and 250 people
respectively and also comprises a library, an administrative
section and other services.
SHEIKH MOHAMMED CENTER
The Sheikh Mohammed Center for
Cultural Understanding, an institution for the introduction
and presentation of Arab culture, was formally inaugurated
in March 1999. The unique project, under the patronage of
Dubai Crown Prince and Defence Minister General Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, aims to familiarise
expatriates with various facets of local culture. The Center
will conduct familiarization and Arabic language courses as
well as lectures on Islam, in addition to guided tours to
local homes and places of worship. It will also house a
comprehensive library, gift and book shops, a café and a
large meeting room.
EXPO 2000 AT HANOVER
The Exhibitions Department of the
Ministry of Information and Culture had hardly recovered
from an exhausting but highly successful participation in
EXPO 1998 in Lisbon before it became deeply invo l ved in
preparations for EXPO 2000 at Hanover. The success of its
participation at Lisbon is confirmed by the fact that the
UAE pavilion was officially ranked as the third most popular
pavilion for the whole exhibition. This was a remarkable
performance against all the world's major countries. The
theme of EXPO 2000, due to open on 1 June 2000, is
‘Humankind, Technology and Nature’. The UAE pavilion design
is based upon Al Jahili fort, built approximately 100 years
ago, which has a characteristic large round tower and a
series of interconnected buildings protecting a large
courtyard. The pavilion will house a series of exhibits,
beginning with a ‘walk through time’ that takes the visitor
through the different periods of the UAE's past. Guests will
be guided from there to a traditional village complete with
local craftsmen and women. A traditional coffee shop will
contrast with a modern cybercafé, bringing visitors to the
present era. Gardens will reflect the UAE's culture and a
unique film will be shown in the round tower. A key feature
of the UAE's participation at Hanover will be displays by
its folklore team which performs local dances and songs,
reflecting on the modern UAE's strong links with its
traditional past.