Dubai: The 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), known as "ICOM Dubai 2025," concluded its landmark edition, marking the first time the event was hosted in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region. The conference was held under the theme "The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Societies" and attracted over 4,500 participants, including museum experts, cultural leaders, and decision-makers from across the globe. The event featured more than 100 panel discussions, dialogues, advanced training courses, and interactive workshops.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, the final day of ICOM Dubai 2025 included a session on "Post-Conflict Museums: Creating Spaces for Recovery." This session featured architect and archaeologist Dr. Gamini Wijesuriya, a heritage management expert at the World Heritage Training and Research Institute for Asia Pacific (WHITRAP), and Marianne Pastor-Ross, an independent exhibitions curator and executive director at TAO Management.
A highlight of the conference was a panel discussion titled "Cultural Diplomacy from an Emirati Perspective: Bridges of Communication and Dialogue." The discussion included Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, and Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State. The session was moderated by Mina Al Oraibi, Editor-in-Chief of The National newspaper.
Another significant session was "The Impact of Narrative, Heritage, and Youth," featuring Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation and CEO of Expo City Authority Dubai. This session, moderated by Dubai Abulhoul, Founder and CEO of Think Foundation, emphasized the role of museums and cultural institutions in strengthening cultural diplomacy and serving as platforms for interaction and dialogue.
The closing ceremony announced the election of Antonio Rodriguez as the new President of ICOM and Nasser Al Darmaki as Vice President. Mohammed Saad Al Remaihi, CEO of Qatar Museums, was elected as President of the ICOM Arab Regional Organization. Additionally, the city of Rotterdam, Netherlands, was officially announced as the host for the 28th ICOM General Conference in 2028. Hala Badri, Director General of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and Chair of the ICOM Dubai 2025 Organizing Committee, ceremoniously handed over the ICOM flag to Maureen Muls, Head of the Rotterdam City Authority for Culture.