The UAE won the hosting and organization of the 27th Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) for the year 2025 in Dubai, in a new global achievement to be added to the UAE’s record of achievements, thus enhancing its leading Arab and regional position as the capital of creativity and innovation in various fields.
The three cities nominated to host (AECOM), which are Dubai, Stockholm and Kazan, had made final presentations for each of them before the start of the voting process, which took place in an electronic and secret way. The efforts of the Emirates branch of the International Council of Museums (AECOM - Emirates), in cooperation with the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), Dubai Municipality, and the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), resulted in presenting the city and its capabilities, and their file was crowned with Dubai’s victory. Dubai hosts (AECOM 25) under the theme “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Societies”.
The result of the vote in favor of the UAE file, surpassing the files of Sweden and Russia, making Dubai the first city in the Middle East and North Africa to have the honor of organizing this prestigious international conference since the founding of Aecom in 1946.
Dubai's victory came after the voting round that took place at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Council of Museums, which was held on Thursday and Friday, 18-19 November, in which more than 130 members participated, as Dubai won 68 votes, ahead of Stockholm, Sweden, which won 34 votes. Kazan, Russia, with 20 votes.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, tweeted on his official account on "Twitter", saying: "Dubai's win to host the largest museum conference in the world, ICOM 2025, in the presence of 119 countries covering 20,000 international museums gives A strong boost to the country's cultural sector. Our international museums in our beloved capital and our national museums throughout all the emirates of the country will lead the global debate on the future of museums at this huge international conference."
For his part, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, tweeted on his Twitter account: "Dubai wins hosting the largest international conference for museums in the world, Icom 2025. We will have more than 4,000 specialists from 119 countries. To discuss one topic, "The future of museums" in the city of the future Dubai. All thanks to Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed, the Culture Authority, Dubai Municipality and Dubai Tourism for their efforts to host the global event."
