On the sidelines of her visit to Egypt to mark fifty years of bilateral ties, Noura Al Kaabi met with Egyptian ministers and officials and visited prestigious cultural institutions

Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, concluded her participation in the three-day cultural event ‘Egypt and UAE…One Heart’. The event took place in the Egyptian capital of Cairo under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and His Excellency Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi making the fiftieth anniversary of the UAE-Egypt relations. The event was also attended by several ministers from both countries and a number of officials from various fields including business and culture along with thought leaders and media persons. 

Her Excellency kicked off her visit with a cultural dialogue session entitled: "Highlights of the UAE-Egypt Cultural Cooperation". She was joined by H.E. Dr. Nevin Al Kilani, Egyptian Minister of Culture; H.E. Bilal Al Bodour, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Culture and Science Symposium in Dubai; journalist Mohamed Salmawy and other cultural and media figures from both countries.

During the session, Her Excellency expressed her views on areas of cultural cooperation between the two countries, and how it impacts Arab awareness. She stressed that the Egyptian-Emirati relations represent a distinctive and inspiring model of cooperation. She pointed out that the friendship between the two countries has a firm foundation based on decades of brotherly ties stemming from the vision of late H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Mutual respect between the two countries and a high regard for each other is the hallmark of Emirati-Egyptian relations.

Her Excellency praised the leading role of the Arab Republic of Egypt under the leadership of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in various developmental, intellectual, cultural and artistic fields in the region, pointing out that Egypt brings in its fold millions of years old culture and civilization that has a special place in the heart of every Arab. The history of Egypt is an integral part of school education in the UAE. Students at every stage learn about the inimitable contribution of Egyptian writers, novelists and filmmakers and have great regard for Egyptian cultural icons.

Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi was briefed about the creative projects included in the Art D’Égypte exhibition, which took place in the pyramids of Giza. The UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth is a global partner for the exhibition, which also celebrated the work of artists from the UAE. Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Egyptian National Committee of UNESCO, the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority jointly organised the exhibition under the slogan "Forever is Now”. Emirati artist Zainab Al Hashemi and UAE-based Tunisian artist el Seed presented their artworks alongside exhibits by many others.

Her Excellency was introduced to Zainab Al Hashemi’s installation entitled "Camouflage of the Camels 1.618 Missing Obelisk", which is an ongoing art project of the series "Camouflage of the Camels". Inspired by ancient Egyptian artifacts, Al Hashemi’s artwork uses neglected camel skins which she has covered with abstract geometric models, similar to the rocks scattered in the desert. Her artwork uses the skin of camels as an artistic pillar to reflect camouflage with an exceptional artistic vision.

The installation presented by the artist el Seed, entitled "Secrets of Time", invites the visitor to open the doors and discover a dazzling world of the artistic installation overlooking the pyramids directly.

Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi also visited the exhibitions organised under ‘Egypt and UAE…One Heart’ at the Radio Cinema, Access Gallery and Founder Spaces. She met with a number of participating artists to know more about their artworks.

Her Excellency also paid a visit to other cultural institutions and museums. She visited the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, which provides a comprehensive view of Egyptian civilization from prehistoric times, through different eras, in its many distinctive collection of antiquities. She learnt about the educational and research aspect offered by the museum.

Her Excellency’s itinerary included the Museum of Modern Egyptian Art, one of the most important Egyptian and Arab museums since 1972 which showcases distinctive works of art encapsulating different generations and eras of time. She also toured the Khalil Museum where she was received by Dr. Khaled Sorour, Head of the Plastic Arts Sector, and senior directors and trustees of the two museums who explained the history of the two buildings and the most important works on display.

Her Excellency’s other stops included prominent cultural institutions and art galleries in the Arab Republic of Egypt, including the Museum of the Egyptian International Artist Adam Hanin, the "Picasso Gallery" and "Zamalek ART Gallery”. She was also hosted by the prominent Egyptian anchor Mona Al Shazly in her well-known show.

The "Egypt and UAE…One Heart" event reflects the importance of the historical ties between the UAE and Egypt. The two countries share a remarkable model of bilateral relations based on the fundamentals of Arab unity and the strong people-to-people connections. It is an occasion that celebrates years of deep ties between the two friendly nations. The friendship between the two countries is getting stronger with time and will continue to gain strength in the future.

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