The UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth has announced that the country’s first comprehensive national Museum Guide is nearing completion, ahead of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) General Conference, set to take place in Dubai in November 2025.
The project, currently 80 percent complete, aims to create a central reference cataloguing every museum in the UAE, strengthening access to culture, heritage, and education across the nation.
The UAE Museum Guide: A Landmark for Cultural Infrastructure
Developed under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and Youth in collaboration with ICOM UAE, the guide was created with the support of four master’s students in culture and museum studies.
“This project will serve as a central reference for all museums in the country,” said Nasir Al Darmaki, Chair of ICOM UAE. “It was developed through collaboration between ICOM, the Ministry, and young Emirati researchers.”
The announcement was made during a press conference hosted by ICOM and the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority at the Dubai World Trade Centre, marking the official start of preparations for ICOM Dubai 2025.
ICOM Dubai 2025: The World’s Largest Museum Gathering
Held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the 27th ICOM General Conference will run from November 12 to 17, 2025.
Themed “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities,” the event will bring together over 4,500 participants, including museum leaders, cultural policymakers, and academics, from around the world.
It marks the first time the global conference will be hosted in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region, highlighting Dubai’s growing role as a center for cultural dialogue and innovation.
“Museums today are more than places of preservation, they are spaces of participation and innovation that reflect how societies evolve,” said Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture and Chairperson of the ICOM Dubai 2025 Organizing Committee.
Technology, Sustainability, and Cultural Dialogue
ICOM President Emma Nardi praised Dubai’s role as a bridge between cultures, describing the city as “the future in a rapidly changing society.” She also announced that ICOM will present its first-ever Sustainable Practices in Museums Award at the conference, honoring institutions leading in environmental and cultural responsibility.
Nardi introduced a new initiative titled “ICOM for Peace,” which aims to unite global museum communities in promoting dialogue and cultural understanding amid conflict.
Medea S. Ekner, Director General of ICOM, added that the Dubai conference will explore how museums can engage new audiences through innovation and artificial intelligence.
“Museums are no longer spaces of reservation, they are spaces of participation, creativity, and exchange,” she said.
Cultural Leadership: Uniting the UAE Museum Guide and ICOM 2025
The national museum guide and ICOM Dubai 2025 are part of the UAE’s broader strategy to strengthen its cultural infrastructure and global standing in heritage and innovation.
By hosting one of the world’s largest cultural gatherings, Dubai is reinforcing its position as a gateway for global collaboration, where the past meets the future, and where museums are redefined for a new generation.
