AC Joins Global Experts in Abu Dhabi to Enhance Heritage Policy, Governance, and Collaboration in the Gulf
May 9, 2025
The Gulf region is rapidly emerging as a global leader in arts, culture, and heritage—demonstrating not only its investment in preserving its own rich legacy, but also its commitment to international cooperation. This dedication was on full display at The International Forum on Cultural Heritage and Knowledge Development: Fostering a Culture of Integrated Protection, hosted in Abu Dhabi by the Department of Culture and Tourism.
Bringing together policymakers, educators, cultural heritage experts, and legal specialists from across the globe, the forum highlighted the importance of integrated, cross-sector solutions to the challenges facing cultural heritage today. Its collaborative format underscored a regional and international recognition that heritage protection is not a local issue—it is a global imperative requiring united action.
The Antiquities Coalition was honored to contribute to this important dialogue. Executive Director Tess Davis spoke on Enhancing Policy, Governance, Collaboration, and Legal Frameworks for Cultural Heritage Protection, sharing core strategies that have proven effective in the fight against cultural racketeering:
- Leveraging existing tools and frameworks to protect the art and antiquities market from criminal misuse. Davis recalled the resonating impact of the Government of Yemen’s ratification of the 1970 UNESCO Convention in 2019—an extraordinary achievement during the height of the country’s humanitarian crisis—which enabled a bilateral Cultural Property Agreement with the United States to protect Yemeni antiquities.
- Identifying and addressing gaps in laws, policies, and best practices to strengthen systemic safeguards. Bringing together the United States and Bahrain, the AC proudly facilitated the development of the Manama Statement, a focused, action-oriented agreement advancing bilateral cooperation against cultural racketeering and serving as a model for targeted legal reform.
- Building and mobilizing political will to ensure meaningful enforcement and reform. The 2015 Cairo Declaration and 2016 Amman Communiqué, in which 17 MENA nations pledged to integrate heritage protection into their broader efforts to combat violent extremism, are strong examples of how high level convenings forge enduring relationships, enhancing regional heritage protections.
The Antiquities Coalition commends the Department of Culture and Tourism for convening such a timely and impactful forum, and looks forward to continued collaboration with partners in the Gulf and around the world to protect our shared heritage from looting, trafficking, and destruction.
Learn more about the forum, here.