Culture Summit Abu Dhabi 2025, which took place from April 27-29, is an annual global forum that convenes international leaders from the cultural and creative industries, to identify how culture can transform societies and communities worldwide.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Culture of India, who participated in the event, emphasized the close relationship between India and the UAE, saying it extended far beyond traditional trade exchanges. “It is deeply rooted in historical cultural bonds and a shared civilisational heritage connecting the two friendly nations over time,” he said.

Shekhawat added that the UAE today stood as India’s largest trading partner, highlighting the vital and influential role played by the Indian expatriate community in the UAE. “With an estimated population of around five million, this community significantly contributes to advancing comprehensive economic development across various vital and strategic sectors within the UAE,” he said.

During his active engagement in the Summit sessions, Shekhawat also pointed out that discussions primarily focused on two critical themes shaping today’s global cultural landscape: the growing impact of artificial intelligence on various aspects of the cultural field and the pivotal role of culture in fostering global peace and enhancing intercultural understanding.

He noted that participants expressed a combination of concern over the potential challenges posed by rapid AI developments to cultural identity and human creativity.

He stressed that promoting the role of culture had become an urgent necessity in light of the current geopolitical landscape, which in the past three years had witnessed a significant escalation in regional conflicts and tensions. – editor@nrifocus.com