Abu Dhabi: Ms. K. Nandini Singla, Director-General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), visited the United Arab Emirates from October 7–9, 2025, to co-chair the 2nd Joint Steering Committee (JSC) Meeting of the India–UAE Cultural Council Forum with H.E. Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE. The meeting was held in Abu Dhabi on October 9, 2025.

Deepening Cultural Partnership

The India–UAE Cultural Council Forum was established under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two nations, aimed at strengthening their long-standing cultural and people-to-people connections. The first JSC meeting took place in March 2025 in New Delhi during the visit of H.E. Noura Al Kaabi to India.

Building upon those discussions, both sides met again in Abu Dhabi to review progress and chart new areas of collaboration under the Cultural Council Forum. The agenda included youth engagement, sports, yoga, arts, education, tourism, and archival cooperation among other fields.

Both co-chairs emphasized the importance of cultural diplomacy as a key pillar of the broader strategic partnership between India and the UAE. Ms. Singla expressed gratitude to the UAE leadership for their continued warmth and support toward the 4.3 million-strong Indian community in the country, calling it the “living cultural bridge” between the two nations.

High-Level Participation

The meeting saw the participation of senior representatives from both sides.
From India, delegates included officials from the ICCR, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, National Archives of India, and Nalanda University.
The UAE delegation comprised representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Ministry of Economy & Tourism, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, Dubai Culture, Dubai Tourism, National Youth Federation, and the National Library and Archives.

Strengthening Academic and Cultural Cooperation

On October 8, Ms. Singla held discussions with Mr. Fabio Piano, Vice-Chancellor of New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), and Mr. Bill Bragin, Executive Director of the NYUAD Arts Centre. The meeting explored collaborative opportunities between ICCR and NYUAD in academic exchange, arts, and cultural programming.

Cultural Engagements

During her visit, Ms. Singla also toured the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum, where she met with Mr. Manuel Rabaté, Director of the Museum. The two discussed expanding cooperation in the fields of museums, visual arts, museology training, and capacity building to further enhance India–UAE cultural linkages.

A Strengthened Cultural Bridge

The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of India and the UAE to deepen their cultural, educational, and artistic partnerships, while fostering greater understanding and collaboration between their peoples.

The India–UAE Cultural Council Forum continues to serve as a key platform for advancing joint initiatives that celebrate creativity, heritage, and mutual respect between the two nations.