The first High-Level Arab Forum on “Cultural and Creative Industries in the Arab World” opened on May 18, 2026 in Rabat, Morocco.
Jointly organized by the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication and the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), the Forum aims at exploring future directions for cultural and creative industries across the Arab world.
Held under the theme “Investing in Creativity is Investing in the Future,” the Forum brought together stakeholders from across the cultural ecosystem. Discussions focused on opportunities and challenges related to building an integrated Arab model for the creative economy based on innovation, future-oriented professions, sustainable financing, one that places culture at the heart of Arab development policies as a driver of development and a means of improving quality of life.
Over the course of three days, the Forum addressed investment trends in a range of cultural sectors, including cinema, heritage, music, design, and digital arts. It provided a unique platform for entrepreneurs, artists, creators, and cultural practitioners to share expertise and build partnerships.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, stressed that the organization of the Forum reflects the importance Morocco places—under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI—on strengthening joint Arab cultural action and developing cultural and creative industries as a key driver of comprehensive and sustainable development.
The Minister noted that the Forum’s theme aligns with Morocco’s efforts to build these industries on solid foundations through a clear strategic vision. He highlighted that Morocco, in line with royal directives, has adopted an approach centered on developing and enhancing human capital, translated into legislative and regulatory measures, foremost among them the Kingdom’s Constitution, which places cultural advancement at the core of this strategic orientation.
For his part, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, emphasized that building cultural industries in Arab countries requires a set of fundamental measures, including in particular stronger integration with modern technologies, especially AI tools in the areas of production, distribution, consumption, evaluation, and monitoring. He also underscored the importance of activating legal and institutional frameworks, supporting cultural startups, and protecting cultural and intellectual property rights, as well as related rights.
The Director-General further noted that developing infrastructure for cultural industries requires economic support mechanisms and advisory programs, emphasizing the importance of Arab countries engaging in the production of content that reflects their history and cultural aspirations in national, regional, and international markets. He concluded by affirming that meeting this challenge requires policies that view the development of cultural and creative industries infrastructure as a strategic investment in the future.
