The 2026 Global Mayors Dialogue was successfully concluded in Chengdu City of southwest China's Sichuan Province on Friday.
The dialogue, held from May 13 to 15, was themed "Park City: Harmonious Coexistence". It gathered representatives from 32 cities of 26 countries as well as five international organizations.
Chinese and foreign guests discussed technological innovation, industrial cooperation, cultural exchange, and ecological security at the event.
2026 Global Mayors Dialogue held in Chengdu
The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu of Dhabi announced on Thursday its plans to build a spherical immersive experience center on Yas Island, a 1.7 billion U.S. dollar project to open in 2029 that will accommodate up to 20,000 spectators.
The investment underscores the emirate's determination to expand cultural and tourism industries as a cornerstone of economic diversification despite lingering regional uncertainties.
The project aligns with Abu Dhabi's Tourism Strategy 2030, unveiled in 2024, which targets 39.3 million annual visitors and aims to lift tourism's contribution to GDP to 90 billion UAE dirhams (about 24.51 billion U.S. dollars) by the end of the decade.
Under that strategy, Abu Dhabi views cultural collaboration with China as essential, said Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism of the emirate.
"We see China as a cultural partner. We know what culture means to us. And you see that it's in performances. It's in music. We've hosted some of the best Chinese musicians to come here and play in Abu Dhabi, with an amazing crowd. So, I only see this cultural relationship even moving forward," he said.
UAE announces building of Sphere Abu Dhabi on Yas Island
