The UAE values the role of culture in building bridges of connection between diverse peoples and has therefore taken steps to extend bilateral cooperation in cultural domains. For years, the UAE has signed cultural cooperation agreements with other countries, and this also extends to the reporting period for this report. Before 2018, aspects of the creative industries were included in the MoUs and agreements signed with other countries. However, since 2018, the UAE has, for the first time, included the term "cultural and creative industries" as an area of cooperation in it's bilateral agreements and MoUs with partners around the world.
Below are a few examples of the outcomes of these partnerships:
* 23 bilateral agreements and 1 multi-lateral agreement were signed between 2016 and 2019.
* 23 of the agreements were signed with partners in the global south.
* As a result of the cultural exchange, there is an increased interest among students in the UAE to learn more about the culture and language of these partners.
* A one-year cultural dialogue was launched with France (2018-19) and the Republic of Korea (2020) to serve as a platform for creative and cultural cooperation and engagement between the countries. A few examples of the cultural dialogue projects:
o Creative collaboration between French manufacturers and 4 UAE-based artists.
o Reintroduction of the French language in public schools across the UAE through a pilot phase program for the first time since 1988.
o A culinary cultural exchange project between Emirati and Korean students.
o Several discussions among Korean and Emirati creatives on various cultural topics as part of the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth's Summer Camp 2020.
The projects, workshops, talks, initiatives and events that have resulted from the cultural agreements have increased the dialogue between both the creative communities and the general public across these countries, resulting in cultural exchange, co-creation, and an enhanced understanding, respect and appreciation for each other's cultures. Further, they have enabled the cultures to freely interact and influence cultural expression beyond the years of the agreement. This has reinforced the importance of converging efforts in the cultural sector across borders and will continue to be a priority for the UAE.