Dubai: The ICOM Dubai Organising Committee is set to host the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the world’s largest global gathering of museum professionals, from 11 to 17 November 2025. The event will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. This marks the first time the conference will be held in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region, under the theme ‘The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities.’
According to Emirates News Agency, H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, will open the conference with a keynote address. The conference aims to facilitate a week of dialogue on the evolving role of museums and their importance in preserving collective memory and driving cultural progress.
The agenda for the opening day and the entire week will feature keynote speeches and panels by global figures such as Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and CEO of Expo City Dubai Authority; Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture; Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of State; Rakan Al Touq, Assistant Minister of Culture, KSA; Krista Pikkat, Director of Culture and Emergencies, UNESCO; El Anatsui, a renowned Ghanaian sculptor and artist; Sumayya Vally, a South African architect and Principal and Founder of Counterspace; and Kamini Sawhney, Founding Director of the Museum of Art and Photography in Bengaluru, India.
The conference will also feature interactive sessions, forums, and masterclasses, highlighting the role of youth in reimagining the future of museums, the importance of safeguarding intangible heritage, and the role of innovation and technology in redefining engagement and access.
The International Council of Museums (ICOM), established in 1946, is the leading global organisation dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and development of museums and the museum profession. ICOM represents over 60,000 members across 139 countries and territories, and nearly 20,000 museums worldwide. In 2021, ICOM-UAE, in collaboration with Dubai Culture, Dubai Municipality, and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, submitted a successful bid to host the ICOM General Conference 2025 in Dubai. The UAE was chosen as the host city for its global reach, cultural and heritage preservation efforts, and commitment to fostering a creative economy.
ICOM Dubai 2025 is organised in collaboration with partners, including du, Expo City Dubai, Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Government of Dubai Media Office, Dubai Media Incorporated, Dubai Business Events, Dubai Airports, General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, and Dubai Police.