India-UAE Cultural Collaboration
Recent developments highlight strengthening cultural ties between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marked by new initiatives and strategic partnerships.
India House in Abu Dhabi
- An *India House* is planned in Abu Dhabi, expected to be established within the next couple of years.
- This cultural landmark aims to enhance art and culture, facilitate student exchanges, and highlight shared historical ties.
Yoga as a Competitive Sport
- The UAE plans to declare yoga as a competitive sport due to its growing popularity.
- A national framework for yoga is being developed by the UAE Yoga Committee under the Ministry of Sports.
- UAE would be the first Gulf country to formally recognize yoga as a sport.
Second Joint Steering Committee Meeting
- Held in Abu Dhabi on October 8-9, the meeting involved representatives from various Indian ministries and their UAE counterparts.
- Discussions included initiatives to boost youth engagement, sports, education, tourism, and archival collaboration.
Cultural Collaborations
- ICCR Director-General, Nandini Singla, engaged with cultural and academic leaders to explore collaborations in arts and museology.
- These discussions built on foundations from the first meeting in New Delhi, March 2023.
India-UAE Cultural Council Forum
- Established in 2022 through an MoU, this forum emphasizes cultural partnerships alongside economic cooperation.
- The latest initiatives stem from a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohammad in 2022.
UAE-India Cultural Roundtable
- Hosted by the UAE Embassy in New Delhi, the roundtable included celebrated Indian figures in art and design.
- The dialogue focused on the *India House* as a platform to showcase India's artistic heritage and contemporary creativity.
Significance of India House
- It is envisioned as a hub for yoga training and a space to exhibit India's cultural history and its connection to the UAE.
- Ambassador Alshaali emphasized its role in fostering artistic collaboration between the two nations.
