UNESCO strengthens cultural emergency preparedness and response across Middle East

Complementing emergency response efforts, UNESCO is also investing in preventive action and preparedness to help countries reduce risks and sustain cultural life in times of disruption. On 29 April 2026, UNESCO convened more than 130 cultural stakeholders from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for a high-level webinar on emergency preparedness in the field of culture.

The event took place as part of UNESCO's "Rethinking Tomorrow: Crisis Navigation Webinar Series" and brought together representatives from ministries of culture, heritage authorities, World Heritage focal points, museums, cultural institutions, UNESCO Category 2 Centres and Chairs, as well as actors from the cultural and creative industries.

The discussions explored practical measures to maintain the continuity of cultural life and livelihoods during crises, including emergency planning for heritage protection, safeguarding living heritage and community practices, and adaptive approaches for cultural and creative industries facing operational disruptions. Participants shared experiences, lessons learned and innovative solutions to enhance resilience, including the use of digital tools, flexible programming models and stronger coordination frameworks.