If a curious mind were to look beyond the noise of headlines today, searching for meaning in a fast-changing world, it might find itself drawn to a place where culture, heritage and innovation meet. Perhaps that mind would find itself in Dubai, a city, though long spoken of in numbers and skyline, that has been masterfully revealing a different dimension that pulses with reinvention and creative fire, becoming a cultural rhythm that is unmistakably alive.

Where memory and movement meet

But this rhythm did not emerge overnight; it was shaped over decades in the patient restoration of historical districts and the visionary rise of spaces such as Al Shindagha Museum and Alserkal Avenue. These are not monuments to the past, nor galleries of prediction; they are intersections of memory and movement, where artists, historians, architects, and storytellers meet to shape how we understand who we are.

Etihad Museum. Photo: ICOM

In Dubai, cultural infrastructure is a living framework: every museum built and every archive preserved forms part of a wider symphony that amplifies accessibility, champions inclusivity, and invites participation from every corner of the globe. For here, dialogue does not echo in closed chambers but flows across borders and disciplines. From international art fairs to heritage celebrations and policymaking summits, the city has become a trusted stage for necessary conversations and daring collaborations.

At a time when many nations turn inward, Dubai opens outward, and, in doing so, it has quietly become a lighthouse for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (Measa) region and beyond, casting light on the creative power of collective imagination.

A landmark moment for museums

This November, that same rhythm will culminate in one of the most prestigious gatherings in the museum world. For the first time in ICOM’s history, the conference will be hosted in the Measa region, right here in Dubai. Thousands of museum professionals, academics and creatives will descend on the city under the theme ‘The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities,’ showcasing to the world how Dubai is as symbolic as it is strategic, offering an instructive case study in how to embrace change to support and amplify legacy.

ICOM Dubai 2025 will be a manifestation of what Dubai has been working toward for years. It is a place where culture will serve as a lens through which we understand the world and shape what comes next, featuring thought-provoking keynotes, youth-led panels, digital experiences, and dialogues on everything from intangible heritage to artificial intelligence. It will also shed light on the region’s museum professionals and cultural innovators, many of whom are shaping the field not from global centres of influence, but from emerging creative capitals with distinct stories to tell.

Al Maktoum Residence.