Heritage.. An intellectual and creative treasure that promotes the concept of sustainability

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World heritage has a great value reflected in the cultural and historical heritage, which constitutes the memory of homelands and the identity of societies, as these precious treasures were the product of continuous human minds and efforts, and human communication that resulted in an intellectual and creative heritage passed down through generations, and constituted a bridge for rapprochement and communication between different peoples and cultures, and a rich cultural heritage from which countries launched their modern renaissance.

Shared value

The importance of heritage lies in its common human value, and in the fact that it is an irreplaceable heritage in the event of its extinction, which the UAE realized early, so it made all efforts to preserve and preserve the landmarks of world heritage and protect them from extinction, and established an institutional work system with clear plans and goals, which worked to achieve many achievements in this field, believing that human heritage is a public heritage for all humanity, and preserving it is a common responsibility among all countries of the world, until it reached heritage to the world. During her leadership of the nomination files for intangible cultural heritage elements, which resulted in the inscription of many of its elements on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

High status

Heritage in the UAE has always enjoyed a high-level position as a key axis in the process of sustainable development, and its experience in preserving and preserving it has attracted the attention of the world, and has received wide attention, as it is the first in the Arab world and the seventh in the world in the number of elements of intangible heritage registered with UNESCO, where it recorded 14 special and common elements, some of which expressed their own cultural identity, and shared other elements with their Gulf and Arab surroundings. The registration of these local elements, which include "Al-Sadu, Talli, Al-Azi, Al-Razfa, Al-Ayala, Al-Taghrooda and Al-Aflaj, in addition to the palm, Arabic coffee, Majlis, Arabic calligraphy, camel racing, falconry and shoes", is an effective step that contributes to introducing the global community to the ancient heritage of our country, enhances its own identity and distinctive imprint in the conscience of the world, and confirms the will and determination of a distinguished society, whose origin is fixed and its branch is in the sky.

Definition of heritage

In the field of preserving local heritage, the UAE has made great efforts to introduce the world to its cultural heritage, represented in customs, traditions, governance, folk proverbs, arts, products, heritage crafts, and others, through various cultural and community events, and has harnessed the capabilities to collect and document oral heritage and popular culture in the country, especially since we got to know a large percentage of the history of our country before the establishment of the union of fathers, grandparents, elderly narrators and the elderly, who narrated historical and heritage stories and narratives dealing with the details of life in the UAE. In the early period of the country's life, Dubai was a pioneer in documenting and archiving heritage in innovative ways that highlighted its endeavor in the field of heritage preservation, which was embodied in the "Faces of Hatta" project, launched by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, with the aim of recording the oral history of the Hatta region and its cultural heritage, preserving and transmitting it through generations through narratives stored in the memory of contemporary witnesses from the people of this region.

Dubai's efforts

Dubai's leadership and the diversity and richness of its cultural content were also highlighted through the "Dubai Culture and Heritage" project on the Google Culture and Arts platform, which achieved great success, reflecting Dubai's unique identity and creative space in the past and present, to be the first cultural window through which the global audience overlooks the thriving creative scene in Dubai, and learns about the essence of the city's authentic cultural identity.

Dubai's efforts in the field of heritage preservation are continuous, as exemplified by the inauguration by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, of Al Shindagha Museum, the largest heritage museum in the UAE, which tells a global story of human achievement, and narrates the history and heritage of the emirate. This museum, which carries the fragrance of the past, includes investment spaces that provide multiple opportunities for service facilities, and various projects related to heritage and culture, and its pavilions, houses and halls include windows that take us to the future if we invest its treasures in an innovative way that keeps pace with the creative thought and forward-looking vision of the wise leadership of our country.

Our celebration of heritage stems from our awareness of its value as an essential component of our civilization, and its role in activating our creative economy based on investing culture and its elements in the field of creative industries, with the aim of promoting the sustainable development of modern societies and economies, especially that the creative economy opens horizons for innovative patterns capable of employing talents, creativity and knowledge, with the aim of creating creative investment opportunities and new projects, for promising youth energies that are proud of their identity and values, which contributes to diversifying sources of income, and promotes economic and social development, after The creative economy based on knowledge and innovation has proven its importance and role in overcoming the economic difficulties and challenges faced by countries and governments.

I call on new generations to complete the march started by the State, support its efforts in this field, and be an active part in preserving it, by realizing the importance of their role in recording and preserving oral heritage, and expanding their horizons to invest any promising new opportunities that lie within the folds of our rich heritage, and to draw inspiration from its various elements in their daily lives and in various fields of creativity.

Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority:

■ "The UAE has made every effort to preserve and preserve the landmarks of the World Heritage and protect them from extinction."

■ "Heritage in the UAE has gained a high-level position as a key axis in the process of sustainable development."

■ "The UAE has made great efforts to introduce the world to its diverse cultural heritage."

■ "Dubai's leadership and the diversity and richness of its cultural content have emerged through the project (Dubai Culture and Heritage) on the (Google Culture and Arts) platform."