Mohammed Bin Rashid Library Welcomes French Delegation to Explore Cultural Cooperation Opportunities

Dubai, UAE, 14 November 2025: The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library welcomed a French delegation comprising representatives from the Embassy of France in the UAE, the French Institute, and several companies in the fields of visual arts, creative and cultural industries, with the aim of learning about the Library’s programs and exploring potential cultural collaborations.

The delegation was welcomed by His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Chairman of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, and Dr. Mohammed Salem AlMazrooei, Board Member at Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation.

The French delegation included representatives from institutions specialising in visual and auditory arts, digital technologies for cultural content development, as well as companies focused on innovative exhibition design, visual educational production, and creating cultural experiences that integrate multimedia within museums and art galleries. The delegation also included experts in documentary work and artistic content production aimed at the general public.

The meeting discussed the rapid developments in the UAE’s cultural sector, and the active role Dubai has established through an integrated cultural infrastructure that includes modern museums, smart libraries, and initiatives celebrating various art forms.

Al Murr highlighted the historic role of French culture in shaping global thought and art—from the legacy of major cultural institutions such as The Louvre Museum and the National Library of Paris, to research and art preservation centres. Al Murr also shed light on the art movements that redefined beauty and visual representation, as well as contemporary experiences in audiovisual industries and digital technologies.

Al Murr said: “Cultural partnership between the UAE and France serves as an inspiring model in the region, embodied by institutions such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. While the region often tends to collaborate with English-speaking cultures, France, Italy, and Spain possess rich humanistic legacies and captivating cultures, though the language barrier remains a challenge to their broader dissemination.”

Al Murr also highlighted the role of tourism in promoting culture, encouraging greater promotion of France’s diverse regions. He stressed that the country’s beauty is not confined to Paris, but extends to Provence, Burgundy, and Brittany, where natural diversity meets deep-rooted history.

The meeting concluded with a tour of the Library’s Treasures of the Library exhibition, where the French guests viewed rare collections, including copies of the Holy Qur’an, historical manuscripts, books printed in some of the earliest presses of the East and West, and maps documenting global exploration journeys.

The French delegation expressed their admiration for the Library’s remarkable architectural design, smart services, and comprehensive knowledge experience. They affirmed that the Library serves as a vibrant space for intercultural dialogue, and reflects the depth of cultural relations between France and the UAE. They also commended its role as a platform for enriching cultural exchange and promoting community engagement, expressing appreciation for the integrated model the Library provides to its visitors.