The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has organised the sixth edition of the GCC Heritage and Oral History Conference under the theme ‘Zayed and Heritage through History’, to mark the centenary of the birth of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
To be held on October 23rd and 24th in the UAE capital, the conference is set to feature several individuals who worked closely with the late Sheikh Zayed, as well as academics, researchers and experts from GCC universities and institutions who specialise in education, heritage and history.
The conference will shed light on the life and work of Sheikh Zayed and his efforts to safeguard heritage and traditions as key elements of national identity, and will underline the importance of oral history sources in preserving the shared heritage of the GCC.
It will also explore the late Founding Father’s vision and practices to further cultural collaboration in GCC countries, and the sustainability of such practices, with a focus on a comprehensive national strategy for safeguarding heritage.
The conference is organised annually by DCT Abu Dhabi to develop a GCC-wide vision on preserving heritage and consolidating identity.
HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “DCT Abu Dhabi’s ongoing celebration of the late Sheikh Zayed underlines his status as a protector of heritage, who spearheaded the drive to build a ‘modern UAE’, making it a leading, globally-respected country.
“As we work to deliver a range of heritage preservation initiatives, the conference will discuss and consider many details of the Founding Father’s original vision.”
The sixth edition of the event will see the participation of GCC universities, ministries and government and private institutions, UAE universities, the National Archives, the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development and the Ministry of Education. Also in attendance will be the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Centre, the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, Emirates Heritage Club, General Women’s Union, Khalifa Bin Zayed Foundation, Emirates Red Crescent, Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation and the Dhakira Center at NYUAD, as well as a number of senior citizens and traditional performing artists from universities in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.
The conference talks will include ‘Zayed and Heritage: Vision, Thinking, Practice’; ‘Zayed and Heritage: Achievement and Miracles’; ‘Zayed and Heritage in the UAE Curricula’; ‘From the Heritage Practices of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan’ and ‘Zayed in Depth: Tales, Testimonials and Recollections of Personalities who worked with Sheikh Zayed towards Preserving Heritage’.
