Post by : Raman

Abu Dhabi is taking a major step to protect its cultural and natural heritage with a new programme called the Expert Modules for Strategic Knowledge Co-Creation. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) will start this series in September 2025. The programme includes seminars, workshops, and hands-on field visits led by experts. Its aim is to ensure that Abu Dhabi’s rich history, traditions, and natural treasures are preserved and accessible for future generations.

A Step Forward in Heritage Preservation

The Expert Modules build on Abu Dhabi’s earlier efforts to protect cultural heritage. In May 2025, DCT Abu Dhabi organized the International Forum on Cultural Heritage & Knowledge Development. The forum, held in partnership with UNESCO, the UAE Ministry of Culture, and other international organizations, focused on safeguarding heritage, promoting education, and encouraging cooperation across sectors.

The new modules take these ideas further by giving professionals practical skills to manage and protect cultural and natural heritage. These initiatives follow the recommendations of UNESCO’s World Conference on Culture and Arts Education held in Abu Dhabi in February 2024. Together, they form a broader strategy for heritage law and preservation in the UAE, emphasizing the importance of cultural sustainability.

Leadership Vision

His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, highlighted the importance of teamwork in heritage protection. He stated, “The preservation of our heritage is a shared mission that requires collaboration, knowledge exchange, and collective action. Building on the outcomes of the International Forum on Cultural Heritage & Knowledge Development, the ongoing work to safeguard our past by upskilling our culture sector workforce continues with this important series of seminars, workshops, and hands-on field visits. We are equipping specialists across a range of disciplines to effectively conserve our stories, sites, and traditions, ensuring our shared cultural and natural heritage remain a source of identity, opportunity, and inspiration in Abu Dhabi, the region, and beyond.”

This statement shows that the programme focuses on creating a skilled network of professionals who can preserve and promote heritage sustainably and inclusively.

Objectives of the Expert Modules

The Expert Modules are guided by international frameworks, including the UNESCO Framework for Culture and Arts Education (Abu Dhabi, 2024), the MONDIACULT Conference (2022), the Pact for the Future Summit (2024), and the UN Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (1966).

The programme aims to:

• Treat cultural heritage as a living resource for communities.

• Strengthen the skills and knowledge of professionals working in cultural heritage.

• Promote collaboration across government, education, media, law enforcement, tourism, environment, and civil society.

• Support sustainable social, economic, and environmental development through heritage preservation.

• Ensure heritage continues to provide identity, historical continuity, and economic benefits.

Programme Structure

The Expert Modules are divided into four thematic areas, each running over four consecutive days. Each module includes two days of seminars and two days of workshops and field visits. These practical experiences encourage professionals to work together across sectors and disciplines.

Module One: Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites

• Dates: 16–19 September 2025

• Focuses on understanding heritage as a shared responsibility.

• Teaches legal, institutional, and practical methods for protecting sites.

• Introduces national and UNESCO frameworks for heritage management.

• Explains community-based site management and inter-agency cooperation.

• Provides training on risk preparedness and disaster management.

Module Two: Protection and Promotion of Cultural Expressions

• Dates: 7–10 October 2025

• Highlights the importance of cultural diversity for innovation and resilience.

• Explains legal frameworks supporting cultural expressions.

• Discusses the role of cultural industries, education, and civil society.

• Shows ways to protect cultural voices during crises or rapid changes.

Module Three: Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage

• Dates: 21–24 October 2025

• Focuses on submerged heritage, including coastal and maritime archaeological sites.

• Explains maritime law and environmental considerations.

• Encourages coordination with law enforcement and local communities.

• Discusses tourism’s role in protecting underwater heritage.

Module Four: Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage

• Dates: 17–20 November 2025

• Covers traditions, knowledge systems, practices, oral expressions, and performing arts.

• Teaches methods for preserving living heritage.

• Explains the roles of education, media, and policy in cultural preservation.

• Shows ways local communities can maintain cultural identity and continuity.

Participation and Certification

Mid-career professionals from the UAE and GCC working in government, cultural institutions, education, media, law enforcement, environment, tourism, or civil society are eligible. Interdisciplinary professionals such as architects, urban planners, archaeologists, educators, and museum specialists can also participate.

The modules will be conducted in Arabic and English, with simultaneous interpretation. Participants who complete a module will receive a certificate, recognizing them as part of Abu Dhabi’s network of cultural heritage experts. Certified professionals will also join specialized focus groups to support ongoing heritage initiatives.

Participation requires approval from respective organizations and a commitment to attend all four days of the module. Organizations can also nominate their staff for relevant modules.

Importance of the Expert Modules

The Expert Modules demonstrate DCT Abu Dhabi’s long-term commitment to cultural sustainability. By training professionals across sectors, the programme:

• Encourages knowledge sharing and collaboration.

• Strengthens Abu Dhabi’s capacity to protect cultural and natural heritage.

• Ensures heritage remains accessible and beneficial to communities.

• Promotes social unity, economic opportunity, and historical continuity.

The initiative reflects Abu Dhabi’s leadership in cultural governance, combining education, policy, and practical conservation to safeguard heritage at multiple levels.

A Model for the Region

The launch of the Expert Modules marks a major milestone in Abu Dhabi’s cultural development strategy. By providing hands-on training, workshops, and field experiences, the programme ensures that heritage professionals have the tools to preserve the UAE’s rich cultural and natural heritage.

The programme also fosters collaboration, learning, and innovation, allowing the people of Abu Dhabi and the wider region to connect with and benefit from cultural heritage. By investing in human capital and promoting cross-sector engagement, Abu Dhabi sets an example for heritage protection that other countries can follow.

The Expert Modules for Strategic Knowledge Co-Creation reflect a deep understanding of the value of cultural and natural heritage. By educating professionals and encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, Abu Dhabi is ensuring that its heritage is not only protected but also used as a resource for social cohesion, education, and sustainable development.

Through this initiative, DCT Abu Dhabi reinforces the idea that cultural heritage is a shared treasure and a vital resource for identity, economic opportunity, and inspiration. The Expert Modules demonstrate that investing in knowledge, skills, and collaboration is key to preserving heritage for generations to come.

Abu Dhabi culture, DCT Abu Dhabi programs, heritage protection UAE, cultural heritage training