ICOM 2025
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Dubai’s silversmiths shaped a rich jewellery heritage, transforming silver into timeless, culturally significant pieces using special tools. Silversmithing is a traditional Emirati craft that has a rich history, and at a time when silver was more popular than gold, these artisans defined an era of artistry and trade through their craftsmanship.

27th ICOM
General
Conference
2025

The Future of Museums
in Rapidly Changing
Communities

Dubai World Trade Centre,
Dubai, UAE

Modern architecture reflecting cultural heritage, a venue for ICOM 2025 sessions in Dubai.

Every three years, ICOM hosts its General Conference, a flagship event that brings together museum professionals from around the world to engage in dialogue on the most pressing issues facing the museum sector.

The selection of Dubai as the hosting city for 2025 marks a historic moment, positioning Dubai as the first city in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia to organise this prestigious international event since ICOM’s establishment in 1946.

ICOM Emblem Animated 2025

ICOM Dubai 2025 conference will be hybrid, enabling global participation.

Visionary speakers, including renowned museum professionals and cultural thought leaders, will share insights on the future of museums. Attendees will engage in expert-led masterclasses and networking opportunities, providing a dynamic platform for collaboration and idea exchange.

ICOM Emblem Animated 2025

The main theme chosen for the General Conference, ‘The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities,’ encapsulates the dynamic ever-changing landscape that communities and museums worldwide navigate through today, with three interconnected sub-themes that will invite in-depth discussions into the safeguarding of intangible heritage, youth power, and the rise of new technologies.

Embracing the rich cultural scene in Dubai and the UAE, the conference will also offer an array of social and cultural events for an enhanced experience for all attendees.

ICOM Emblem Animated 2025
Emma Nardi
The General Conference is the highlight of our triennial calendar and for the first time, this year, it will take place in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region
Emma Nardi

President of International Council of Museums – ICOM

Hala Badri
Dubai is a crossroads of cultures where heritage and innovation coexist, and ICOM Dubai 2025 is our moment to exchange ideas and shape museums as spaces of connection and transformation.
Hala Badri

Director General
Dubai Culture and Arts Authority
Chairperson of ICOM Dubai 2025 Organising Committee

Nasir Al Darmaki
27th ICOM General Conference, ICOM Dubai 2025: Bridging Cultures, Shaping Futures. Join us in paving the way for innovation, dialogue, and the transformative power of museums worldwide
Nasir Al Darmaki

Chair of ICOM UAE

Conference
Theme

The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities

A whirlwind of global events has reshaped our understanding of the world and our place in it, thrusting us into an era of constant transformation.

Etihad Museum

International Committee Day Venue Partners