Abu Dhabi, UAE. 29 March, 2015:HE Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism &Cultural Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), received in his office in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa,the Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Isa Cultural Center (ICC) in Manama, Bahrain, and the accompanying delegation including Sheikh Rashid bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Director of ICCs Historical Documents Center.

The visit comes in light of the historical ties and the brotherly relationsbetween the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain, and aims to expand cultural cooperation between the two countries, and to reinforce the historical common heritage of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member-states.

It is noteworthy that the Isa Cultural Center is a national minaret of knowledge affiliated with the Royal Court of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The ICC was founded in 2008 to disseminate the Bahraini culture at the local and global levels, and to provide distinct cultural services for all segments of society and to open up to world cultures. It makes available valuable tools of knowledge and research such as books and historical documents in different fields; andhighlights the Arabic and Islamic heritage of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

In this regard, HE Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan and Dr. Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, discussed how to activate cultural cooperation between Abu Dhabi and Manama further, and looked at stepsto deepen the knowledge and cultural partnership between the two nations.

The visiting Vice Chairman of the ICCsBoard of Trusteesand accompanying delegation, listened to a brief on TCA Abu Dhabis ambitious cultural initiativeshighlighting the world-class museums due to open in Abu Dhabi in the coming five years, and how the Authority plans to strengthen the position and the status of Abu Dhabi on the global cultural map.

At the end of the meeting, Dr. SheikhKhalid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa invited HE Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan to visit the Kingdom of Bahrains Isa Cultural Center, and expressed hisgratitude for the warm welcome he and accompanying delegation received in Abu Dhabi. The ICCs Vice Chairman also welcomed close cooperation between the TCA and the ICC.

HE Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan highlighted the strong ties and strategic relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain, and emphasisedthe historical depth that the two brotherly countries share. Sheikh Sultan also welcomed the partnership between the Authority and the ICC, and looked forward to visiting the Kingdom of Bahrains Isa Cultural Center, and to enrich the knowledge exchange between Abu Dhabi and Manama.