Abu Dhabi reaffirmed its position as a regional cultural and innovation hub with the successful hosting of the inaugural Congress of Arabic and Creative Industries (Congress ACI), a major event that brought together more than 1,600 professionals from local, regional, and international businesses operating across the cultural and creative sectors.
Held under the leadership of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the Congress served as a dynamic platform to showcase the power of creativity, storytelling, and cultural enterprise in shaping the Arab world’s future. Over 600 participants also engaged in dedicated capacity building programmes, signalling a strong commitment to talent development and knowledge exchange across the industry.
One of the event’s major milestones came during the opening speech by His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, who announced a groundbreaking partnership between DCT’s Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) and Amazon to develop the largest Digital Arabic Library ever hosted on Amazon.
Another key moment was the unveiling of the first-ever Congress ACI Arab Youth Survey, providing valuable insight into the creative aspirations, challenges, and opportunities perceived by the region’s younger generations. The findings sparked meaningful dialogue across sessions, with youth voices at the centre of the conversation.
Throughout the congress, attendees heard from a distinguished line-up of speakers and cultural icons. Among them were renowned actors Hend Sabry and Nadine Labaki, comedian Mo Amer, and filmmaker Tima Shomali – each of whom shared personal reflections on the role of creativity, identity, and resilience in their respective industries.
This year also marked the second edition of the Youth X Congress and the Innovation Awards, which saw a significant increase in participation from students and emerging professionals. Attendance more than doubled compared to the previous year, underscoring the growing influence and interest of the region’s youth in the future of cultural and creative industries.
Congress ACI 2025 not only celebrated the vibrancy of the Arab world’s cultural landscape but also set the tone for the future – where creativity, innovation, and collaboration continue to drive meaningful impact across generations.
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