UAE Participates in Fourth G20 Culture Working Group Ministerial Meeting, Reinforces Leadership in Culture-Based Sustainable Development
The UAE, represented by the Ministry of Culture, actively participated in the fourth G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) Ministerial Meeting, held in Zimbali, KwaDukuza, Republic of South Africa. The event brought together culture ministers and senior representatives from G20 member states, guest nations, and prominent international organisations, including UNESCO, WIPO, ICOM, ICOMOS, the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), and INTERPOL. The meeting’s principal aim was to strengthen cultural collaboration and highlight culture’s pivotal role as a strategic driver for sustainable development.
Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture, led the UAE delegation and played a key role in the meeting. The conference concluded with the adoption of the KwaDukuza Declaration of the G20 Ministers of Culture, which acknowledges the essential contribution of culture to sustainable growth, solidarity, and global resilience.
During the proceedings, Al Qassimi emphasized, “culture is a driver for sustainable development, fostering solidarity and resilience.” He further noted the growing need to enhance culture’s contribution to the global economy, and to protect all actors within the creative ecosystem.
Al Qassimi reaffirmed the fundamental role of culture in global policy, stating that the G20 Ministers of Culture Declaration positions culture as a “dynamic catalyst for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and beyond.” He underlined the importance of international cooperation in culture-based climate action, the creative economy, and the protection of global heritage.
On the sidelines, Al Qassimi engaged in bilateral discussions with several international cultural leaders, notably with Brazil’s Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes; Angola’s Minister of Culture, Filipe Silvino de Pina Zau; and Norway’s Minister of Culture and Equality, Lubna Jaffery, focusing on future joint initiatives and cultural cooperation.
The UAE’s participation is a testament to its ongoing commitment to active engagement in international cultural platforms. It underscores the country’s recognition of culture as a catalyst for sustainable development and a key factor in addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. The UAE continues to demonstrate leadership in the evolving fields of the cultural and creative economy and climate action, complementing its national strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The KwaDukuza Declaration stresses the vital interface of culture and climate change, emphasizing the protection of cultural heritage and the preservation of Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ knowledge systems amidst climate challenges. It recognizes culture’s essential role in climate mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity conservation by safeguarding both tangible and intangible heritage and promoting resilient cultural and creative sectors.
The declaration specifically highlights the UAE’s leadership, citing the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience advanced at COP28, which seeks to protect cultural heritage from risks driven by climate change. Initiatives such as the UAE-Belém Work Programme on indicators and the Group of Friends of Culture-Based Climate Action (GFCBCA) further reinforce the UAE’s commitment to advancing culture-based climate strategies.
In addition, the declaration advocates for enhanced cooperation in knowledge building, refined indicators for heritage protection, and the consideration of non-economic losses in climate action—elements that reinforce the UAE’s central role in integrating culture into the global climate resilience agenda.
This gathering marks the UAE’s fourth consecutive participation in the G20 Culture Working Group, following involvement in 2022, 2023, and 2024, as well as previous participation in 2011 and 2020, underpinning its sustained dedication to international cultural collaboration and leadership.
Team V.4-EM-UAE
