It will be the first time the event is hosted in the MENA region…

Dubai has done it once again, this time securing its bid to host the World Cities Culture Summit (WCCS) in 2024. The huge event will take place from October 29 to November 1, 2024.

The announcement was made during the 2023 summit in Sao Paulo, Brazil in October. It’s a huge win for Dubai as this will be the first time the event will be hosted in the Middle East and North Africa region. It cements Dubai’s status as a regional hub for culture and innovation across various fields.

What is the World Cities Culture Summit?

The summit was founded in 2012 by the Mayor of London to coincide with the London Olympic Games. It began with a network of eight global cities, and has now grown to 40 global cities spanning six continents. Dubai announced its membership in 2020 represented by Dubai Culture. The only other Arab city in the network is Abu Dhabi.

Essentially, it is a three-day annual gathering of over 40 of the world’s major cities who champion culture as an essential driver for prosperous, fair and sustainable cities. One of the main objectives of the 2024 summit is ‘to explore the role of culture in the prosperity of cities and establish the foundations for sustainable development’.

Leaders will come together to exchange groundbreaking ideas and best practices in cultural policy making to shape the creative cities of the future.

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Member of the Dubai Council states that hosting the summit further cements the emirate’s position as a global cultural destination. Sheikha Latifa added, “Hosting the 2024 World Cities Culture Summit is a testament to the visionary aspirations of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity and a thriving hub for talent.”

Her Highness stressed the summit serves as an international platform bringing together international cultural experiences, creative innovations, and scholarly research to envision the future of cities, redefining and reshaping them through culture and creativity.

Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture further added that the summit will help encourage new cultural partnerships that enhance Dubai’s leadership and global standing.

More details on the 2024 World Cities Culture Summit will be announced soon.

Well done, Dubai on this win!

@wccforum

Images: Unsplash | Ahmed Aldaie