The United Arab Emirates made milestone moves in 2025 to strengthen national identity. It carefully and strategically placed the country firmly on the global cultural map. From heritage laws to news museums, the focus stayed on reviving the past, supporting current creatives, and setting up a thriving future for the region. Here’s a list of the UAE’s Cultural milestones achieved in the year 2025.
UAE Cultural Milestones In 2025: Museums, Heritage Laws, And Global Impact
One of the most symbolic moments in terms of culture came when the UAE Cabinet approved Sheikh Zayed Farm as the country’s third national site and put it in the same group as Dar Al Etihad and Argoub Al Sedirah. To support this move, the UAE Cabinet also approved plans for the creation of a new federal law on cultural heritage. Which will support the protection of old buildings, traditions, customs, and historical sites.
The goal is to record UAE heritage and keep it alive, useful, and meaningful and promote both tangible and intangible heritage according to a report by Gulf Today.
Policy Moves That Actually Mean Something
Cultural policy was quite interesting in 2025, and here’s what changed:
- The Ministry of Culture launched the National Policy to preserve Modern Architectural Heritage, to protect buildings that shaped the UAE’s modern story.
- Next, the Cabinet approved a general policy for the civilisation sector, designed to strengthen shared values and a stronger cultural dialogue across the country.
- In Sharjah, an Emiri decree created the Sharjah Creative Quarter, which gave artists, thinkers, and creators a dedicated space to work and grow.
The Emirates Council for Balanced Development, with the Ministry of Culture, supported 20 creative projects. They trained cultural ambassadors and helped create new markets for traditional crafts. Also, this move boosted cultural tourism across communities
Museums, Books, And A Serious Knowledge Push
Museums gained recognition as a headline act in 2025. Abu Dhabi welcomed teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi. Dubai added its own by announcing the Dubai Museum of Art (DUMA).
With museums came knowledge. The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair attracted over 400,000 visitors, while the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair crossed 1.4 million visitors, holding its global title for publishing rights trading.
Meanwhile, the Arab Reading Challenge continued its global rise, with over 163 million students.
Also Read: UAE Introduces New Sugar-Based Excise Tax For Sweetened Drinks From 2026
Digging Deeper: Archaeology and Global Heritage
Then came Archaeology. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi announced the discovery of the first Iron Age cemetery in Al Ain, with over 100 burial sites. In Umm Al Qaiwain, excavations on Al Ghallah Island revealed Neolithic-era economic and findings of a rare dugong-bone stone platform.
Beyond borders, the UAE reinforced its global role through the Revive the Spirit of Mosul initiative. It committed $50.4 million to rebuild Al-Nuri Mosque, Al-Hadba Minaret, and two historic churches. And to finish, the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list added four new UAE inscriptions.
UAE marked some major milestones in terms of cultural heritage in 2025, and we aren’t surprised!
Cover Image Courtesy: CanvaPro/ MAMADO CONF from Pexels
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