Culture Central To Building Inclusive, Sustainable Futures, Say Global Leaders At WGS

Culture is central to peaceful and sustainable societies, global leaders said at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, arguing that it helps bind communities, guides development policies, and opens dialogue between nations. Speakers from UNESCO and the UAE added that cultural investment now carries economic weight, while also shaping how future generations respond to conflict, division, and rapid technological change.

The session, titled "What Role Does Culture Play in Shaping the Future of Humanity?", brought together Khaled El-Enany, Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and Sheikh Salem Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Culture. The conversation was moderated by Becky Anderson from CNN and looked at security, education, and heritage through a cultural lens.

Sheikh Salem Al Qasimi described culture as a shared human asset and a responsibility that crosses borders. Sheikh Salem Al Qasimi said the UAE sees cultural cooperation as part of its foreign policy, especially through work with UNESCO and other multilateral partners. Both speakers noted that cultural sectors now contribute to jobs, tourism, and urban renewal, alongside their social and symbolic value.

Highlighting one example, Sheikh Salem Al Qasimi pointed to the UAE-backed effort to rebuild Mosul in Iraq. The UAE is the main funder of the Mosul recovery project, which is considered one of the largest cultural restoration programmes worldwide. "The Mosul project is about people," Sheikh Salem Al Qasimi said, stressing that the initiative links physical reconstruction with renewed community life.

More than 7,700 Mosul residents were trained under the programme, according to Sheikh Salem Al Qasimi. Of these, 2,700 people received direct support financed by the UAE, helping many secure work in restoration, crafts, and related services. Sheikh Salem Al Qasimi said that bringing youth into these activities, and reviving the city centre, had encouraged families to return and re-establish neighbourhoods.

Sheikh Salem Al Qasimi also linked cultural growth with learning, saying that culture cannot flourish without strong education systems and active youth participation. Partnerships with international organisations were described as essential to this work. "The UAE’s collaboration with UNESCO is a successful model and a blueprint for future cooperation, rooted in the country’s longstanding values of coexistence and tolerance," Sheikh Salem said.

UNESCO’s cultural mandate and the future of humanity

Dr. El-Enany outlined UNESCO’s origins after the Second World War, when governments agreed that education, science, and culture were key tools to stop new conflicts. Dr. El-Enany said that mission still guides the organisation. "While the world today faces new challenges, including natural disasters, technological (transformations), and the spread of hate speech, UNESCO’s mandate remains vital," he said.

Dr. El-Enany added that UNESCO aims to reach children early, equipping younger generations with knowledge, practical skills, and shared values. "Education, science and culture bring people together." Dr. El-Enany noted that the United Nations has in 2024 formally recognised culture as a global public good. Dr. El-Enany described this step as an important driver for embedding culture within sustainable development plans worldwide.

Financial pressures on multilateral agencies were also addressed. "We may have less resources, but we are trying to do it better with less," Dr. El-Enany said, explaining that culture and diplomacy remain important tools for reducing tensions and building trust. Dr. El-Enany called for special attention to young people in conflict areas, including Ukraine and the Middle East, to help them move "from trauma to trust" by protecting access to quality education. "I don’t want to lose this generation," Dr. El-Enany said.

Both speakers agreed that culture supports social harmony and can help counter hate speech and polarisation when combined with inclusive schooling and civic programmes. At the same time, they noted that cultural projects, from heritage restoration to creative industries, generate employment and investment. For governments meeting in Dubai, culture was presented as both a moral priority and a practical pillar for the future of humanity.

With inputs from WAM