The Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy and
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UAE
present
The United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of the Netherlands are slated to jointly host the inaugural UAE-Netherlands Week from May 30 until June 5, 2021, in an effort to promote cultural and knowledge exchange between the two countries.
The week comes against the backdrop of the two countries’ celebration of nearly fifty years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, as well as the UAE’s fiftieth anniversary since its founding as a nation.
Representatives of Emirati and Dutch governmental entities, cultural institutions, and youth organizations will take part in the forum. Participants include HE Omar Saif Ghobash, Assistant Minister for Public and Cultural Diplomacy at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; HE Hissa Abdulla Alotaiba, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands; HE Lody Embrechts, Dutch Ambassador to the UAE; HE Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam; and HE Hans Sandee, Dutch Consul General in Dubai and Netherlands Commissioner General for Expo 2020 Dubai, among others.
Sessions will address diverse topics, including ways to strengthen cooperation in the arts and cultural sectors, promote food security and energy efficiency, empower women in STEM fields, and foster entrepreneurship and scientific innovation.
The week will also include a Youth Talk Series held in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Youth Hub. Topics include starting a business in the UAE and the Netherlands, female empowerment, being an artist in both countries, youth hubs in the two countries, bilateral educational exchange, and a talk titled “My Next 50 Years.”
Attendees will also discuss Dutch participation in Expo2020 Dubai, where the Netherlands will host a microclimate pavilion focused on the nexus between water, food, and energy security.
Programme
Sunday 30 May
Opening Session
UAE – The Netherlands Friendship – 50 years in the making
Speakers:
– H.E. Omar Saif Ghobash, Assistant Minister for Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs And International Cooperation (UAE)
– H.E. Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam (NL)
Moderator: HE Dr Mariam Al Mahmoud, Deputy Director General, Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (Abu Dhabi)
UAE – The Netherlands – 50 successful years of Diplomatic Relations
Speakers:
– H.E. Hissa Abdullah Alotaiba, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of The Netherlands
– H.E. Lody Embrechts, Dutch Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates
Moderator: HE Bernadino Leon, Director General, Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (Abu Dhabi)
Youth Talk Series presented in partnership with Abu Dhabi Youth Hub
Studying in the UAE and The Netherlands
Speakers:
– Ms. Reem Nasser Saeed Al Otaiba
– Ms. Hend Rashed
Moderator: Ms. Amna Darwish Alraeesi
Monday 31 May
Water – Energy – Food – Efficiency & Ingenuity to Tomorrow’s Societies
Speakers:
– Mr. Essa AlHashimi, Head Food Security, UAE Ministry of State for Food & Water Security
– Dr. Rabia Ferroukhi, Director of Knowledge, Policy and Finance Centre, IRENA (Abu Dhabi)
– Mr. Michiel Raaphorst, Architect Director and Co-Founder, V8 Architects (NL)
Moderator: HE Hans Sandee, Dutch Consul General (Dubai) and Netherlands Commissioner General, Expo2020 Dubai.
Youth Talk Series presented in partnership with Abu Dhabi Youth Hub
My Next Fifty Years in the UAE & the Netherlands
Speakers:
– Mr. Eissa Naser Ali Saleh Alhammadi
– Mr. Mark Hengstman
Moderator: Mr. Hamad Khalid Aljneibi
Tuesday 1 June
UAE & The Netherlands – Arts and Culture – Looking Back and Beyond the Next 50 years
Speakers:
– Mr. Daan Roosegaarde, Designer, Artist, Founder of Studio Roosegaarde
– Ms. Shatha Amin Almulla, Director of the Departments of Arts, Ministry of Culture and Youth (UAE)
Moderator: Mariët Westermann, Vice-Chancellor, NYU Abu Dhabi
Youth Talk Series presented in partnership with Abu Dhabi Youth Hub
Being An Artist in the UAE & the Netherlands
Speakers:
– Ms. Sarah Almehairi, Artist
– Mr. Thomas Trum, Artist
Moderator: Ms Noor Al Suwaidi, Cultural Advisor, Curator & Artist.
Wednesday 2 June
Entrepreneurship & Innovations in Science – What Can We Learn From Each Other?
Speakers:
– Mr. Duke Urbanik, YesDelft
– Ms. Anoesjka Imambaks, Executive Director of the Venture Café Foundation
– Mr. Saeed Measam Al Falasi, Executive Director of Future Platforms, Dubai Future Foundation
Moderator: Dr. Seppe Verheyen, Chief of Staff, Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (Abu Dhabi)
Youth Talk Series presented in partnership with Abu Dhabi Youth Hub
Starting a Business in the UAE & the Netherlands
Speakers:
– Ms. Sheikha Thabit Hamed
– Ms. Nesrine Bouhab
Moderator: Mr. Abdulla Khalid Albarakani
Thursday 3 June
Female Empowerment and STEM: The Future of Our Nations?
Speakers:
– Ms. Carine de Meyere, Chief Commercial Officer Women in Tech
– Ms. Dieuwke Hoogland, Initiator Female Ventures
– Engineer Hoor Al Mazmi, Space Science Researcher, UAE Space Agency
Moderator: Ms. Hamda Ali Alshaiji, Ministry of Foreign Affairs And International Cooperation (UAE)
Youth Talk Series presented in partnership with Abu Dhabi Youth Hub
Female Empowerment in the UAE & The Netherlands
Speakers:
– Ms. Hamda Abdulla Alhoshani
– Ms. Yeni Joseph, Public Policy Manager Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) at NLdigital
Moderator: Ms. Alia Salem Alnuaimi
Youth Talk Series presented in partnership with Abu Dhabi Youth Hub
Youth Hubs in the UAE and The Netherlands
Speakers:
– Ms. Noura Alshaikh Al Zaabi, Abu Dhabi Youth Hub
– Ms Thyrza Zoons, Board Member Dutch National Youth Council
Moderator: Mr. Mohamed Mahamuud
Friday 4 June
Replay available here.
The Youth Talk Series – Replay
Presented in partnership with Abu Dhabi Youth Hub
– 2pm UAE – 12noon The Hague: Studying in the UAE and the Netherlands
– 3pm UAE – 1pm The Hague: My Next 50 years
– 4pm UAE – 2pm The Hague: Being An Artist in the UAE and in the Netherlands
– 5pm UAE – 3pm The Hague: Starting Up a Business in the UAE and in the Netherlands
– 6pm UAE – 4pm The Hague: Female Empowerment in the UAE and the Netherlands
– 7pm UAE – 5pm The Hague: Special Presentations by Abu Dhabi Youth Hub and National Dutch Youth Council
Saturday 5 June
Replay available here.
Talk Series – Replay
– 1pm UAE – 11am The Hague: UAE – Netherlands Friendship: 50 years in the Making
– 2pm UAE – 12noon The Hague: UAE – Netherlands Friendship: 50 Successful Years of Diplomatic Relations
– 3pm UAE – 1pm The Hague: Water-Energy-Food: Efficiency & Ingenuity for Tomorrow’s Societies
– 4pm UAE – 2pm The Hague: UAE & Netherlands Arts & Culture: Looking back & beyond the next 50 years
– 5pm UAE – 3pm The Hague: Entrepreneurship & Innovation in Science – What Can We Learn from Each Other?
– 6pm UAE – 4pm The Hague: Female Empowerment and STEM: The Future of Our Nations?
Latest News about the 'UAE - Netherlands Week'
UAE-Netherlands Week concludes in celebration of 50 Years of Partnership
The United Arab Emirates and Kingdom of the Netherlands have concluded the activities of the inaugural ‘UAE-Netherlands Week’, in a series of events that promoted
UAE, Netherlands celebrate 50 years of partnership
In a special Op-Ed published in Khaleej Times, the Dutch and Emirati Ambassadors review the partnership between their two respective countries.
‘UAE – Netherlands Week’ – Arts & Culture Day
Today’s Talk programme offers a fantastic opportunity to connect with
great art and design professionals.