UAE Joins Asian Alliance Meeting to Boost Heritage Protection

The UAE, represented by its Ministry of Culture, participated in the Second General Assembly of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia (ACHA) held in Chongqing, China. The gathering brought together cultural ministers, senior officials and experts from more than 20 countries to discuss regional and global cooperation in preserving shared heritage. Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, led the UAE delegation and delivered an opening address highlighting the importance of joint action to safeguard human heritage.

In his remarks, Al Nakhi said that protecting cultural heritage is a core national priority for the UAE and plays a major role in supporting sustainable development. He noted that the UAE’s commitment extends globally, including its contribution of more than US$50.4 million to Iraq’s “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” initiative. He also pointed to the UAE’s support for several international projects aimed at restoring and protecting historic sites.

As a founding member of ACHA, the UAE works closely with other member states on research, restoration, digital documentation and the preservation of tangible and intangible heritage. The UAE also supports efforts to tackle modern challenges such as climate change, natural disasters and conflict, which continue to threaten cultural sites across the region. During the Assembly, members explored new cooperative projects and introduced funding mechanisms to strengthen preservation initiatives.

The meeting also finalised the decision to designate Chongqing as the permanent headquarters of ACHA’s Scientific and Technical Committee. This reflects a growing global shift toward using advanced technology and artificial intelligence to support heritage protection. Participants highlighted how new tools can improve documentation, risk management and long-term preservation strategies, especially in areas facing environmental and conflict-related threats.

The UAE’s participation in the Assembly underscores its strong role in shaping the Alliance’s development and expanding cooperation across Asia. By supporting research, restoration and capacity-building programmes, the UAE continues to help protect shared history and strengthen global heritage efforts. Its contributions reaffirm its long-standing commitment to regional and international heritage preservation.