Hanan Youssef: “Building a Contemporary Narrative is Key to Improving Arabs’ Global Image”

Mohamed Mandour

The Arab League on Thursday hosted an intellectual conference titled “The Image of Arabs and the Dialogue of Cultures: Future Visions,” bringing together senior officials, thinkers and cultural figures to address challenges facing Arab representation in global discourse.

Hanan Youssef, president of the Arab Union for Media and Culture and the Arab Organization for Dialogue, said the image of Arabs worldwide remains one of the key challenges, calling for a balanced and informed reading rooted in a deep civilizational history. She stressed the need to build a contemporary narrative that reflects the human and cultural values Arab civilization has contributed throughout the ages.

Nawal Barada, director of the Civil Society Organizations Department at the Arab League, underscored the importance of strengthening intercultural dialogue as a cornerstone for confronting stereotypes, discrimination, racism and hate speech, and for building societies based on mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. She reaffirmed the General Secretariat’s commitment to supporting initiatives that enhance the role of Arab civil society in achieving development goals.

Former Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed El-Orabi warned that the coming phase will bring increasing pressure on Arab presence globally amid rising migration and international shifts, stressing that cultural dialogue is key to preserving identity and improving the Arab image worldwide.

Former Egyptian Culture Minister Abdel Wahed El-Nabawi said discussing the image of Arabs has become a necessity, noting that long-standing negative perceptions dating back to the 19th century do not reflect the true civilizational and humanitarian contributions of Arabs.

Dr. Atef Abdel Latif, a tourism expert, highlighted the pivotal role of art and tourism in shaping and presenting the image of Arabs—particularly Egyptians—to the world. He noted that cultural heritage sites, museums, and artistic expressions serve as vital platforms for intercultural dialogue, allowing visitors and international audiences to engage directly with Arab history, creativity, and values. Abdel Latif emphasized that promoting tourism and the arts not only boosts economic development but also strengthens mutual understanding, counters stereotypes, and showcases the richness of Arab civilization globally.

Ahmed Al-Jarwan, president of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace, said Arab peoples — particularly Egyptians — have historically played a pivotal role in shaping human culture and building bridges between civilizations, describing Egypt as a cornerstone of Arab consciousness and a bridge between East and West.