UAE takes key role at UNESCO General Conference

The UAE has been elected Vice President of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, currently taking place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

The session runs from October 30 to November 13, with delegates from 194 member states in attendance.

The UAE delegation is led by Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture and Chair of the UAE National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.

During the conference, UNESCO also announced the inclusion of the late Emirati poet Ahmed Bin Sulayem and the United Arab Emirates University in its 2026–2027 Anniversaries Programme.

The honour marks the 50th anniversary of the poet’s passing and the founding of the UAE’s first university in 1976.

Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to advancing UNESCO’s mission in education, culture and science, and announced the country’s candidacy for membership on the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2027 to 2031 term.

He also highlighted the importance of international cooperation in protecting cultural heritage, citing the UAE’s partnership with UNESCO on the 'Revive the Spirit of Mosul' initiative as a model for post-conflict recovery.

The UAE’s election as Vice President of the General Conference underscores its growing role as a trusted global partner in cultural diplomacy.

The country also currently chairs the Arab Group at UNESCO.