Having recently launched during DCT Abu Dhabi’s participation at the 41st edition of GITEX Technology Week, the systems include a digital register of more than 1,200 elements of intangible heritage assets, ensuring a commitment to safeguarding and sustaining them for future generations. The systems will also link data and reports to support up-to-date and accurate decision-making.

 DCT Abu Dhabi has also adopted Artificial Intelligence to develop a smart scheduling system for hotel inspections, where task forces are helped by visual cross-checking of inspected items through smartphones and tablets. The system’s benefits include upgrading the services provided to hotels by reducing inspection time, and organising the working hours of the inspectors through smart planning and guidance to check their availability near the hotel facilities due for inspection.

 The digital register of intangible heritage assets, which is included within DCT Abu Dhabi’s ‘CulturAll’ platform, consists of 1,200 registered and certified heritage elements. This initiative sets two major objectives for safeguarding intangible heritage. The first is to identify, organise and update these elements with information and photos on a regular basis with the help of experts, authorities, academics, research centres and members of the public who apply or engage in safeguarding the elements. 

 The second objective is to promote these elements and strengthen awareness about their importance. The register is considered one of the standards of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to list an element on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It also has a key role in promoting sustainable development and is an important means of achieving greater community participation in safeguarding heritage and sustaining it for generations to come.