Exhibitions
Index / Activities / Exhibitions / رحلة عمر - Time Together - 2006-2026: 20 Years of Casa Árabe and friendship between Spain and the Arab World
رحلة عمر - Time Together - 2006-2026: 20 Years of Casa Árabe and friendship between Spain and the Arab World
From April 16, 2026 until September 13, 2026Mondays through Sundays from 10:00 to 8:00 p.m.
MADRID
Casa Árabe exhibition halls (at Calle Alcalá, 62).
Mondays through Sundays from 10:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Free entry until the event’s capacity is reached.
In Spanish and English.
To mark Casa Árabe’s twentieth anniversary, the institution is presenting this photographic exhibition, which takes a look back at two decades of relations between Spain and the Arab world and our institution’s role in Spanish public diplomacy. It will be on view at our Madrid headquarters as of April 16.
Casa Árabe’s twentieth anniversary holds deeply symbolic significance: like someone turning twenty, the institution has reached the point at which its early years are giving way to a conscious maturity, with an identity that is already established yet still open to growth. Created in 2006 as an instrument for public diplomacy aimed at bringing the Arab world closer to Spain, its history has spanned two intense decades in Spanish-Arab relations: from the strengthening of political and cultural cooperation after its establishment, through the regional upheaval of the Arab Spring in 2011 and Spain’s participation in stabilization missions, humanitarian aid and development cooperation, to recent diplomatic milestones such as Spain’s recognition of the State of Palestine in 2024 and the visit by its president in 2025, as a result of the constantly expressed support of our country for the two-state solution.
From its headquarters in Madrid and Cordoba, Casa Árabe has been not only a witness to but also, at times, a key player in this network of relations. Through top-level meetings and opportunities for dialogue with civil society, it has combined solid analysis with a wide-ranging cultural program, showcasing the hospitality and cultural vitality of both Andalusia and Madrid. At the same time, it has helped to revitalize both Spain’s image in Arab countries and the image of the contemporary Arab world among people on the Iberian Peninsula—and, thanks to Spanish as a vehicle for the dissemination of knowledge, across the Atlantic as well. It would be difficult to list the wide range of contemporary thinkers and public figures who have taken part in Casa Árabe’s activities; the exhibition Time Together offers just a small sample of what has happened here over the past two decades.
Throughout this journey —this rihla— many friendships have been formed with institutions and individuals, driven by a profound belief in cooperative networks and wide-ranging affiliations: in the Mediterranean, European and African regions, as well as the academic, diplomatic, cultural and business sectors. In other words, our focus is on multidisciplinarity as a means for furthering understanding and as a tool to fight against sectarianism and polarization. Education lies at the heart of Casa Árabe, in keeping with the legacy of Lucas Aguirre, who founded the schools after which the building was named, at the end of the nineteenth century. This commitment is reflected not only in our close collaboration with universities and research centers, but also in the language teaching offered at our Arabic Language Center, the work of which has left a longlasting mark on generations of students.
Evoking the metaphor of the “porcelain wedding anniversary,” these two decades are a reminder of something truly precious, created with patience, yet at the same time fragile due to the geopolitical tensions plaguing the region: a network of trust, mutual understanding and cooperation that truly shines when nurtured with care. Therefore, Casa Árabe’s twentieth anniversary marks not only the consolidation of an institution, but also the maturing of a historic bond between Spain and the Arab countries —made up of shared memories and intermixed present and future interests—, as well as a renewed desire to continue building bridges in a world that is increasingly in need of dialogue.
From its headquarters in Madrid and Cordoba, Casa Árabe has been not only a witness to but also, at times, a key player in this network of relations. Through top-level meetings and opportunities for dialogue with civil society, it has combined solid analysis with a wide-ranging cultural program, showcasing the hospitality and cultural vitality of both Andalusia and Madrid. At the same time, it has helped to revitalize both Spain’s image in Arab countries and the image of the contemporary Arab world among people on the Iberian Peninsula—and, thanks to Spanish as a vehicle for the dissemination of knowledge, across the Atlantic as well. It would be difficult to list the wide range of contemporary thinkers and public figures who have taken part in Casa Árabe’s activities; the exhibition Time Together offers just a small sample of what has happened here over the past two decades.
Throughout this journey —this rihla— many friendships have been formed with institutions and individuals, driven by a profound belief in cooperative networks and wide-ranging affiliations: in the Mediterranean, European and African regions, as well as the academic, diplomatic, cultural and business sectors. In other words, our focus is on multidisciplinarity as a means for furthering understanding and as a tool to fight against sectarianism and polarization. Education lies at the heart of Casa Árabe, in keeping with the legacy of Lucas Aguirre, who founded the schools after which the building was named, at the end of the nineteenth century. This commitment is reflected not only in our close collaboration with universities and research centers, but also in the language teaching offered at our Arabic Language Center, the work of which has left a longlasting mark on generations of students.
Evoking the metaphor of the “porcelain wedding anniversary,” these two decades are a reminder of something truly precious, created with patience, yet at the same time fragile due to the geopolitical tensions plaguing the region: a network of trust, mutual understanding and cooperation that truly shines when nurtured with care. Therefore, Casa Árabe’s twentieth anniversary marks not only the consolidation of an institution, but also the maturing of a historic bond between Spain and the Arab countries —made up of shared memories and intermixed present and future interests—, as well as a renewed desire to continue building bridges in a world that is increasingly in need of dialogue.
