Dubai marks Europe Day with week-long EU-UAE exhibition

Zaki Nusseibeh and Patrizio Fondi with other officials during the opening of Europe Day celebrations.

The European Union Delegation to the UAE inaugurated a week-long celebration of Europe Day in Dubai. 
The opening event was attended by Zaki Nusseibeh, Minister of State, Patrizio Fondi, EU Ambassador to the UAE, in addition to Ambassadors of EU Member States and other countries accredited to the UAE, government officials, Emirati and European artists, poets and EU partners. 
The celebrations feature a photographic exhibition titled 'The UAE Through the Lenses of Emirati and European Photographers", organised with the support of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, at the Akaas Visual Arts gallery in the Al Fahidi Historic Neighbourhood. The exhibition is the result of collaboration between 10 Emirati and 10 European photographers, each of whom contributed a photograph of the UAE to the exhibition. The event is open to the public from May 10-15. 
The exhibition includes a preview of the 'EU-UAE: Sheikh Zayed & Europe' exhibition which will be held in Abu Dhabi later this year. Three wall-sized photos from the first Europe trip of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, dating back to 1951, along with three of his personal items - his sunglasses, his car keys and a selection of his perfumes - are being displayed at the event. 
Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, and Zayed University are participating in the exhibition. Brand Dubai is displaying photos of artwork curated by artists from the European Union with reference to the UAE's culture and traditions in different parts of the country.
Patrizio Fondi said: "It is a great honour for me to inaugurate this joint exhibition on the occasion of the most symbolic day of the year for us in Europe. Hosting a photographic exhibition here is an excellent way for us to celebrate EU-UAE friendship and highlight the UAE's own heritage."
Nehal Badri, director of Brand Dubai, said: "The Dubai Media Office is honoured to partner with the EU Delegation to the UAE in celebrating Europe Day in Dubai.
Through our contributions to the exhibition, we seek to pay tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed who was instrumental in establishing strong ties between UAE and the EU.
This event, which takes place during the 'Year of Zayed', is an opportune time to highlight his efforts to instil the values of tolerance, peaceful coexistence and acceptance, which have become the key principles guiding the UAE's international relations."
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