The first Arab Cultural Week in Hamburg took place from 29 November to 9 December 2004, alongside the first Arab–European Photography Festival. Events focused on history, art and culture. The organisers were Dr Mohammed Khalifa of the Asia–Africa Institute and the Arab Union of Photographers e.V.
The week aimed to contribute to understanding between peoples and prevent misunderstandings. Everyone was invited to view their own culture through another person's eyes, helping them understand and connect with others while learning more about their own culture. Through words and images, visitors encountered not only descriptions of countries and people but also the feelings, outlooks and impressions of the photographers and speakers. Understanding a culture thus also deepened understanding of other people's ways of thinking.
Heartfelt thanks go once again to the initiators of the cultural week and photography festival. In his welcome address, for example, Prof. Dr Udo Steinbach wrote that peace in an ever more closely connected world depends greatly on the images we form of one another. This applies especially to neighbours, as Arabs and Europeans are.
Through events in photography, art, culture, politics and history, the first cultural week achieved its goal of presenting a different, multifaceted picture of Arab culture and lived experience.