FUTURE MUSEUMS is designed to gather together museum professionals from around the Mid-East region and the globe to highlight and showcase the issues and opportunities for today and tomorrow.

With the knowledge that mankind had to migrate through the Middle East from its origins in Africa, we know that some of the earliest civilisations were created here. It is where we developed our first appreciation of the physical world and where we first worked out how to live, work and prosper together. Our entire heritage is therefore rooted right here.

This major event reflects the current emphasis in the Middle East upon culture and heritage, the massive investments and outright enthusiasm that is set to bring a whole new series of museums planned for openings over the next few years.

UAE developments alone include a Museum of Bedouin Culture in Abu Dhabi; the Dubai Museum of Middle East Modern Art; and Saadiyat Island - the island of dreams - is to be home to three iconic museums, Sheik Zayed National Museum, the largest Guggenheim and the very first Louvre museum outside of France.

Qatar, Oman and Kuwait are also building and expanding great repositories to house national heritage.

Future Museums Congress will assist Abu Dhabi to become the cultural hub of the Mid‐East.