Building stronger cultural infrastructure such as heritage centres and museums will help Arab governments ensure regional development, experts said on Wednesday.
They were speaking in Abu Dhabi at the closing day of the Fikr15 conference, which brought together government officials, policy-makers and academics to discuss challenges facing the Arab world and propose solutions.
"Today, we notice a rapid response to ideas within intellectual and political circles, and I believe that this is a distinguishing mark of the change happening throughout the Arab world," said Prince Khaled Al Faisal, the governor of Mecca and chairman of the Arab Thought Foundation, which organised the event.
Experts concluded that the Gulf was not only about oil but a language, culture, civilisation, heritage and that it was a key component of Arab culture.
"There is an intellectual, political and social debate about the preservation and renewal of culture, the limits of innovation and the freedom of creativity," said Ali Eldin Helal, professor of political sciences at Cairo University and a member of the foundation’s advisory board.
"For me, culture is a field of general politics. As such, it should be designated an independent ministry, out of consideration for its role and in quest of its future."
He said there was a change in the ruling elite’s and governments’ perception of the importance of culture.
"The notion of investing in culture and considering it a source of the national income is starting to spread," Mr Helal said. "Culture plays a key role globally in strengthening the international position of a country and the report [conclusions drawn from the conference] is a rich addition that will linger for a long time."
Meetings are expected to be held in the Middle East and North Africa to discuss the special report and build upon its findings.
"Cultural foundations in Asia contribute eight per cent of the [gross] domestic product (GDP)," said Mohammed Al Maazouz, a research professor in political anthropology from Morocco. "As such, the cultural sector becomes a productive sector that contributes to development. Prior to understanding economics and politics, there is an urge to understand man. This is achieved through sociology and anthropology."
Until recently, culture was at the bottom of the development and economic interests and priorities of the GCC, according to Dr Yousef Al Hassan, former director at the Emirates Institute of Diplomacy.
"I hope that the cultural department at the GCC Council convenes a series of workshops to discuss this report, which includes great advanced visions that are pertinent to the cultural topics laid out."
The region’s governments were said to be working on building cultural infrastructure for the future.
"I prefer talking about an Arab culture in Gulf countries rather than a Gulf culture," said Dr Hassan Madan, former head of Sharjah’s Department of Culture and Information. "The governments have achieved much in the cultural field but they should also make allowances for the particularities of the local creative cultural space."
Four topics will be tackled by the Arab Thought Foundation next year, including media relations in scientific research, economics and politics, Arab integration and a knowledge-based society.
"Trust is the foundation of a knowledge-based society and social capital," said Mohammed Abu Shaqra, a graduate of the Paris Institute of Political Studies. "Without it, societies do not develop. Although the proposed topics are general, [they will require] research and studying."

Source: The National