Culture & Education | Sunday 27 October, 2019 2:56 am |

A delegation from Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) visited the Kingdom of Bahrain, headed by Hala Badri, Director General at Dubai Culture, to enhance bilateral relations between the UAE and Bahrain. Under the new comprehensive roadmap for culture in Dubai, announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to consolidate the Emirate’s stature as a global destination for culture, innovation, and talent, the Authority’s delegation strengthened cultural ties with Bahrain and enriched its cultural experience by learning from those of other countries.

During the visit organised by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, the Director General and the Dubai Culture team visited the most prominent museums, heritage sites, historical monuments, cultural centres, and heritage houses. The delegation toured the Bahrain National Museum, the first museum in the Arab world, visiting art galleries and the permanent collection of works by Bahrain's most prominent artists. They were also briefed on the building’s architectural design and interior rooms, where a rare archaeological collection is displayed.  

The delegation also attended a lecture titled ‘Leonardo da Vinci: Art, Science, and Natural Wonders,’ at the Bahrain National Theatre. The informative event highlighted Leonardo da Vinci's versatility and ingenuity as well as focused on the connection between his most famous paintings and his passion for mysterious natural phenomena.

The visit continued with the Bahrain Fort Site Museum, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List; the Pearl Route visitor centre, which features a number of archaeological finds; the Kingdom’s Pavilion, Bahrain National ‘Green Monuments’ that participated in Expo Milano 2015; and the Shaikh Ebrahim Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture & Research, which is considered a forum for culture. 

Hala Badri stressed the importance of this visit, which highlighted the strategic intellectual dimension of the cultural and heritage sector in Bahrain, emphasising that it reflected the intellectual harmony, knowledge sharing, and strong cultural ties between the UAE and Bahrain, both of which enjoy a common cultural, social, and economic heritage.

Hala said: “In line with Dubai's new cultural vision under the direction of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to strengthen regional collaboration, this visit highlighted the importance of strategic thinking for the cultural and heritage sector in Bahrain. Our two nations have a common cultural, social, and economic history and heritage, and this visitfocused on strengthening the intellectual compatibility, knowledge exchange, and strong communication and cultural ties that already exist between the UAE and the Kingdom of Bahrain. With a long history of cultural achievements and great attention paid to the sectors of culture, arts, and heritage to enhance national identity, the culture of Bahrain is consistent in its form, content, and objectives with that of Dubai.”