The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi concludes 8th edition of GCC Heritage and Oral History Conference - Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi concludes 8th edition of GCC Heritage and Oral History Conference

23 Sep, 2020

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) successfully concluded the 8th annual GCC Heritage and Oral History Conference on Tuesday, 22 September. Held virtually for the first time, under the theme ‘History of Pandemics in the Arabian Peninsula’, the conference convened speakers from across the GCC to discuss how the region has managed to overcome past epidemics on social, economic, and psychological fronts.

The annual GCC Heritage and Oral History Conference is one of many events and initiatives organised by DCT Abu Dhabi to enrich the cultural ecosystem of the UAE. It plays a pivotal role in protecting the rich cultural heritage of the UAE and wider region, while contributing to Abu Dhabi's position as a global cultural hub.

The virtual conference attracted a wide variety of academics, researchers and experts from universities in the GCC, as well as from institutions and departments related to heritage, oral history, and healthcare. Specialists in social sciences and history were also in attendance, and the conference was moderated by Saeed Hamad Al Kaabi, Director of the Intangible Heritage Department at DCT Abu Dhabi.

The conference began with an opening speech by Saood Al Hosani, Acting Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, in which he noted the switch to a virtual event due to safety measures in place to halt the spread of COVID-19, and remarked: “This year’s theme is centred around past epidemics that Gulf societies have been exposed to, as well as key learnings we might take from these historical incidents as we continue the fight against of the current pandemic. Our region is rich in its experiences, written by the people of the Gulf from various walks of life, and rich in its perspectives, its will, its determination and its hope to explore the future.”

Al Hosani added: “As we continue to face the challenges of the new coronavirus, we can draw on past experiences and lessons learned throughout our history in the Gulf. These can help to enhance the quality of the preventive measures taken by our government and by our prominent institutions, who uphold important values such as cooperation, solidarity, community awareness and determination to overcome the negative effects of this pandemic. The strategy adopted by our wise leadership in the UAE to combat the pandemic has become the focus of admiration and appreciation amongst various international bodies and institutions, who are currently evaluating their own experiences in their home countries.”

He concluded: “On this occasion we renew our pride in our society’s awareness and responsibility. We commend the great efforts and the resilience demonstrated by all those involved in combatting this pandemic. We are proud of the joint GCC effort, which underpins the closeness and unity amongst Gulf nations and our collective determination to achieve further progress and prosperity together."

Saeed Hamad Al Kaabi, Director of the Intangible Heritage Department at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “From its inauguration in 2010, the GCC Heritage and Oral History Conference has sought to preserve the shared heritage of GCC countries, by convening leading experts to share their knowledge and pool efforts to protect and preserve our history. This year, we had to adapt the 8th edition of the conference for virtual audiences, due to the impact of COVID-19. Nevertheless, we have experienced incredible engagement between the speakers and the audience. The sessions were enlightening in how the GCC has handled previous pandemics, and how the region is currently in a strong position to overcome COVID-19.”

The five prominent experts gathered for the conference explored the experience of the UAE and other GCC countries in overcoming historical epidemics at various levels, with a focus on the preservation of this common heritage.

H.E. Matar Saeed Al Nuaimi, Director of the Emergency and Crisis Management Divison at the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi and Director General of the Abu Dhabi Public Health Center, discussed the experience of the UAE in facing COVID-19.

Emirati writer and intellectual, and former UAE Ambassador, Dr. Youssef Al-Hassan examined the narrative of pre-union epidemics in the UAE through the prism of historical fiction.

Dr. Ahmad Issa Al Hilali, Associate Professor of Literature and Rhetoric at the Faculty of Arts - Department of Arabic Language at Taif University, Saudi Arabia, the advisor to His Excellency the President of the University, and Supervisor of the Department of Cultural Affairs, explored how epidemics in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have historically been dealt with, from the era of King Abdulaziz to the present day.

Dr. Hasan Jassim Ashkanani, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Archaeology and General Supervisor of the Anthropology and Archaeology Museum and Laboratory at the Department of Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology, College of Social Sciences, Kuwait University, gave an anthropological perspective on ancient diseases in Gulf society, emphasising the importance of surveying and sterilisation.

Dr.Hamad Ibrahim Al-Abdullah, Assistant Professor of Modern and Contemporary History, Department of Social Sciences, College of Arts, University of Bahrain discussed the role of foreign medical missions in combatting epidemics in Bahrain during the first quarter of the twentieth century AD.

Dr. Saeed bin Mohammad Al Hashimi, Associate Professor in the Department of History, College of Arts and Social Sciences at Muscat University, as well as Assistant Dean of the College for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research, reviewed the tactics used by the Omani people to combat epidemics.

Following the insightful discussions, recommendations were put forth and voted to be submitted to the concerned authorities in the Gulf countries participating in the conference. These recommendations are:

1- Emphasising the importance of the GCC Heritage and Oral History Conference, and supporting its continuity as a cultural and heritage platform that highlights the role of oral narratives in documenting the history and shared heritage of the Gulf region
2- Conducting further studies and anthropological research on the epidemics that Gulf societies have been exposed to in the modern era and ways to overcome them
3- Documenting the experiences of Gulf countries in facing epidemics as part of their human heritage, including the role of foreign medical personnel and missionaries
4- Conducting in-depth research and studies examining descriptions in travellers’ accounts, such as notes, diaries, and news, and what is included in the documents, manuscripts and reports on epidemics that the Arabian Peninsula has been exposed to in the modern era
5- Highlighting the societal role in confronting Gulf epidemics through radio programmes, TV series, and other media
6- Including in the school curricula the common Gulf values, traditions and experiences that have contributed throughout history to the region’s ability to overcome epidemics and other crises
7- Building an integrated, joint Gulf strategy that contributes to the unification of visions, approaches, and plans to confront epidemics, and participate in the intellectual exchange of key learnings