Cultural Policy in Abu Dhabi

The concept of cultural policy in Abu Dhabi, a city within the United Arab Emirates refers to any initiative undertaken by the Emirate government aimed at achieving goals of certain cultural content and ascribable within a coherent strategic framework. Today, Abu Dhabi's foremost ambition is to develop a cultural infrastructure that will allow it to establish itself as a reference point for culture on three levels:

*Locally, Abu Dhabi would preserve and sustain local traditions and heritage, promoting itself as the custodian of true Emirati and Arab identity, counterweighting cultural homogenization due to increasing shares of expatiates in the population;
*Regionally, the focus on culture is meant to help the city and the Emirate compete against traditional centers of power in the Arab world (e.g. Egypt, Lebanon, pre-conflict Syria, etc.) for a leading role in Middle Eastern politics;
*Globally, as a leading cultural hub and center for education able to attract foreign creative talents and diversify its economy, with a particular focus on the service sector and innovation.

With these goals in mind the government has, since 2004, invested a consistent amount of resources in developing local cultural districts, promoting education, and engaging in grand scale plans of urban transformation within the conceptual framework of “cultural infrastructure”. Under the blueprint of th
Abu Dhabi Vision 2030
plan, as these efforts have been branded, the main government body responsible for cultural development in the Emirate today is the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCTAD).Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority Web Page. Last access: 17.04.2013
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History

The Emirate of Abu Dhabi has a diverse cultural history. Settlements of different tribal groups in the prehistoric era granted the region with a rich heritage of traditions and customs. However, the city did not engage in any serious urban development strategy until the discovery of oil in 1962. Thereafter, economic prosperity in the 60s and 70s has resulted in exposure to foreign influxes that jeopardized the integrity of local heritage.Abu Dhabi Government: Official Web Page. Last access: 16.04.2013
/ref> The Emirate's leadership has since then understood the importance of preserving its roots. Ruler's initiative is key in understanding cultural policymaking in Abu Dhabi. Official publications such as the Vision 2030 Master Plan stress the inspirational role played by UAE's first ruler, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in investing oil and gas profits for the development and benefit of the Emirate and its people: “Sheikh Zayed recognized the assets of the UAE, not just its oil, but its true wealth - its people and heritage, its sustainable approach to life and the rich natural assets of the sea and the ‘sweet sands’ of the desert". In the years, the Government of Abu Dhabi has established various institutions and agencies to develop this vision.

Founded in 1981, the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation (ADCF) has for long been the prominent institution in developing and implementing cultural programs in the Emirate. The Arts Workshop, for instance, was aimed at making activities such as ceramics, calligraphy and photography accessible to the general public. The declared mission of the ADCF has been to “promote culture, enrich intellectual thought, encouraging fine arts and highlighting the national, Arab and Islamic cultural heritage”.Lawson, Fred H. and al Naboodah, Hasan M. “Heritage and Cultural Nationalism in the United Arab Emirates” in Alsharekh, Alan and Springborg, Robert (eds.). Popular Culture and National Identity in the Arab Gulf States. London: LMEI at SOAS, SAQI (2008): 15-30. When Sheikh Zayed died in 2004, his son Sheikh Kahlifa took over and the Emirate's cultural ambitions were redefined in scope, with Abu Dhabi to become a truly global player: “Abu Dhabi will become an international cultural hub for the middle east on par with the best in the world”, he declared. The Abu Dhabi Cultural Heritage Management Strategy was then developed in collaboration with UNESCO to investigate critical issues and design optimal policy responses over a five years' horizon. As a result of these studies, in 2005, operations of the ADCF were taken over by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage

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