UAE as Vice President of the General Conference of "UNESCO" Its forty-third session

ABU DHABI, 10 November 2018 / WAM / The United Arab Emirates was elected Vice-President of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at its forty-third session, which is currently being held in the city of Samarkand in the Republic of Uzbekistan and continues until November 13, with the participation of representatives of 194 member states.

His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture and Chairman of the National Committee for Education, Culture and Science, headed the official UAE delegation participating in the conference, which includes His Excellency Ali Al Hajj Al Ali, Permanent Representative of the State to UNESCO, and Ibtisam Al Zaabi, Acting Secretary-General of the Committee, along with representatives of a number of national authorities concerned with the sectors of culture, education and the environment.

In conjunction with the conference, UNESCO announced the inclusion of the late Emirati poet Ahmed bin Sulayem and the United Arab Emirates University in the list of celebrations for its anniversary program (2026-2027), which honors figures and events with a prominent influence in the fields of culture, education, science and peace around the world.

His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi stressed that the UAE continues its commitment to supporting UNESCO’s mission and making a tangible impact in the areas of knowledge, cultural understanding and scientific progress, as they are essential pillars for building a better future. In this context, he announced the UAE’s candidacy for membership in the Executive Council of UNESCO for the period 2027-2031.

He said in his speech during the conference: “We in the UAE believe that building peace passes through education, science and culture, as they are the pillars on which UNESCO’s mission is based and form the basis of international cooperation that our world needs today more than ever before. After 2030, our joint efforts should be more flexible and forward-looking, to face new challenges and seize the coming opportunities.”

His Excellency stressed the importance of international cooperation in protecting cultural heritage, pointing to the UAE’s partnership with UNESCO in the “Reviving the Spirit of Mosul” initiative as a model to be followed in post-conflict cooperation.

He expressed the country’s welcome to cooperate with all member states and partners to support efforts to restore and revive endangered cultural heritage in various parts of the world.

During the conference, the UAE’s growing role in the fields of culture, heritage and education was highlighted, and its election as Vice-President of the General Conference of UNESCO at its forty-third session reflects its position as a reliable partner in cultural diplomacy and international development efforts, in addition to its current role in chairing the Arab Group at UNESCO.

In conjunction with the conference, UNESCO decided to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the passing of the poet Ahmed bin Sulayem, one of the most prominent poets of classical and popular poetry and one of the leading writers and historians in the UAE, and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Arab Emirates University (1976), the first institution of higher education in the country, in recognition of their prominent role in consolidating cultural and educational values ​​that are in line with the principles of the international organization.

This honor comes in appreciation of Ahmed bin Sulayem’s literary and intellectual contributions, which played a pivotal role in shaping the poetic and cultural scene in the region during the first half of the twentieth century, and his works reflect the identity of Emirati society, its values, and its authentic human experience.

While the celebration of the United Arab Emirates University reflects appreciation for its pioneering role in the process of higher education in the country and the region, it has contributed since its founding in 1976 to preparing national competencies in various fields, and supporting the knowledge economy and the path of sustainable development in the country.

Today, the university is considered a model of cultural diversity and academic excellence, as it includes students and professors from all over the world in an environment in which the spirit of coexistence and cultural openness prevails.

These achievements confirm the UAE’s growing presence on the global cultural scene, and its constant commitment to honoring and preserving its intellectual and creative heritage, in line with the mission of UNESCO.

It is noteworthy that in 2025, UNESCO celebrated the centenary of the birth of the great Emirati poet Sultan bin Ali Al Owais, in appreciation of his poetic contributions and rich cultural contributions.

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