Following a dynamic opening on Sunday April 27th, the seventh edition Culture Summit Abu Dhabi 2025 running until the 29th of April, organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), continued to inspire with two days of exceptional programming including keynotes, cultural performances, panel discussions, workshops, creative talks, creative conversations, and case studies. Under the theme ‘Culture for Humanity and Beyond’, this edition brings together 200+ speakers, 100+ sessions, 300+ participants and 3700+ attendees from over 90+ countries across six continents to explore the relationship between culture and humanity in an unprecedented period of global transformation.
On the first day, the Summit explored the ongoing changes shaping today’s world, from advances in digital innovation to broader global developments, and how these shifts are reshaping the cultural landscape. It spotlighted the role of the culture and creative sector in helping humanity navigate the unknown to embrace tomorrow with confidence. Day two dived into the ‘new frontiers of a new post-human environment, which spotlighted how the culture and creative ecosystems are adapting its policies and models to fully leverage possibilities brought by technologies such as Artificial intelligence and biotechnology.
In his welcoming remarks on day one, His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, remarked:”As we gather here at the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi under the profound theme ‘Culture for Humanity and Beyond,’ we are reminded of the words of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, who challenged us to rethink the role of culture in an age of extraordinary technological and societal transformation. In Abu Dhabi, culture is not an afterthought; it’s foundational. Through strategic investments in institutions, talent, and policy, we are working to embed culture into the fabric of our society. These gatherings matter more than ever, as they offer us the opportunity to chart a path towards a more sustainable and human-centred global society—with culture as its compass.”
On day two of the Summit, His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture of the UAE, stated: “Culture is a powerful force that shapes creativity, preserves heritage, and propels societies towards a future defined by innovation and hope. By bridging our past and present, we build the foundation for generations to come, nurturing the talent and imagination essential for sustainable development and economic growth. In an era reshaped by digital innovation and artificial intelligence, culture remains our enduring guide – transforming ideas into action, inspiring communities, and ensuring that creativity remains at the heart of human progress.”
A significant highlight of day two was the 2025 MONDIACULT Ministerial Dialogue, co-organised by UNESCO and DCT Abu Dhabi. The attended ministers engaged in a dynamic dialogue to explore how new technologies and AI are rapidly shaping the way people create and consume arts and culture and addressed the impact on rightsholders and human creativity.
The ministers touched upon various themes, including cultural enrichment, economic opportunities that can arise from leveraging technology, AI’s role in protecting and preserving tangible and intangible heritage, the role of youth, and much more.
Culture was a foundational part of the discussion, which explored how it connects, heals and inspires past and present generations, while remaining the building blocks of any future-thinking society. The dialogue also raised key discussions around focusing on today’s youth and remembering that they are not just consumers, but tomorrow’s decision makers, and therefore keep cultural institutions alive.
His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, commented during the dialogue: “When we launched Culture Summit in 2017, our ambition was to create a platform in Abu Dhabi for the entire global cultural and creative ecosystem. Today, it is an honour to see the collaboration between DCT Abu Dhabi and UNESCO deepen further, as we open the second Ministerial Dialogue at Culture Summit. The presence of Culture Ministers here in Abu Dhabi today sends a strong message: culture is a vital priority for governments around the world. It transcends sectors and speaks directly to our social, economic, and human development agendas.”
His Excellency concluded: “Together, we can shape a world where culture is not just preserved, but empowered to lead; where diversity is celebrated; and where creativity drives sustainable development for our youth and future generations.”
A core theme across the two days of the Summit was AI. On day 1, Mo Gawdat, author and former Chief Business Officer at Google X, predicted the immense challenges that AI will impose, despite the significant conveniences it offers, and how the AI revolution can work for the benefit of humanity in today’s world. A key panel examined how AI is evolving through human creativity, emphasising that while AI is impressive, “it is not inspiring”, and that humanity’s intrinsic connection to art cannot be replicated by machines. Another discussion featuring Lama Hourani, a renowned jewelry designer, Paolo Petrocelli, Head of Dubai Opera, and David Korins, Creative Director & Designer at Korins Studio explored how disruption, whether through AI or other technological advancements, should not be viewed negatively but instead as a catalyst for extraordinary innovation.
Extending to day two, the Summit continued to spotlight discussions around AI, but from a multidisciplinary perspective featuring voices in academia, government affairs, and science. Riyad Joucka, Principal Architect at MEAN*; Stephen King, Senior Lecturer at Middlesex University Dubai; Imad Mesdoua, Director, Government Affairs, Middle East and Africa at Spotify, and Dr. Patrick Noack, Executive Director at Dubai Future Foundation explored how AI can amplify creativity when treated as a tool rather than a replacement. While AI can drive extraordinary efficiency and innovation, the panelists agreed that maintaining human judgment and authenticity will be essential to avoiding overdependence and ensuring AI serves as an accelerator, not a substitute, for creativity.
The second day of the Summit also tapped into the importance of museums and arts institutions today. Through an insightful panel, museums and similar spaces were highlighted as dynamic spaces of urgent relevancy. Other insightful discussions on the day discussedthe power of fashion as an intellectual and cultural force, why design has traditionally centered on humans when we coexist with countless other species, and much more.
The Summit also featured enriching keynote speeches from Susan Buck-Morss, Distinguished Professor – CUNY Graduate Center and Cornell University, Glenn D. Lowry, The David Rockefeller Director – The Museum of Modern Art, Sir William Sargent, Chair at Framestore, Iyad Rahwan, Professor and Director at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development among others.
Throughout the two days, the Summit featured immersive cultural performances by prominent artists, including Ibrahim Maalouf, Kinan Azmeh and Kyle Sanna, Angélique Kidjo, Qusai Al Mamari, captivating Emirati traditional performance of Al-Ayyala and Al-Azi.
Hosted by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the event’s key global partners include UNESCO, The Economist Impact, the Design Museum, Google, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, and Recording Academy. Additional partners include Image Nation Abu Dhabi, International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies, Cultural Foundation, The National, the Club de Madrid, the Abrahamic Family House, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi, Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, Institut Français, Institut du Monde Arabe, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, teamLab, Maktaba, House of Artisans, and Herbie Hancock Jazz Institute.
The Summit reflects DCT Abu Dhabi’s commitment to preserving, protecting, and promoting Abu Dhabi’s rich cultural heritage while fostering creativity and innovation to build a more inclusive and sustainable global cultural future.
