Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), a part of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, proudly announces the launch of its inaugural festival, Arabian Days. This distinct event is set to celebrate the vibrancy, fluidity, and richness of the Arabic language, inviting both native speakers and non-speakers to join the festivities. Arabian Days will unfold from Dec. 15 to 18 at Manarat Al Saadiyat, situated in Abu Dhabi’s dynamic Saadiyat Cultural District.
Themed “Arabic as the Language of Poetry and Arts” for its inaugural year, the four-day-long festival promises an immersive experience into the creative world of the Arabic language via interactive installations, films, performances, and workshops that showcase the diverse facets of Arabic expression.
In addition, the festival’s professional program will feature literary discussions and dialogues led by prominent experts in the field of the language, including German Arabists Stefan Weidner, Mustafa Al-Sulaiman, and Carmen Gau; Ida Zilio Grande, Professor of Arabic Islamic Literature at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice; Anne Millet, Co-founder of LEILA (Arabic Literature in European Languages); Mehmet Hakkı Suçin, Head of the Arabic Language Department of Gazi University in Türkiye, and Dr. Khaled Al Masri, Professor of Arabic Language and Literature at Swarthmore College, PA, USA. The festival’s guest of honor, HE Irene Lozano Domingo, Director of Casa Árabe, will deliver the opening keynote address.
Alongside the professional program, Arabian Days will boast a diverse array of artistic performers, including the Spanish band Al-Mawlid, Russian students from the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, and the renowned Iraqi musician and oud maestro, Naseer Shamma.
The festival will explore various topics related to Arabic language, poetry, and creative arts, through discussions on Arabic poetry, translation, cultural and linguistic influences of Arabic music, challenges in Arabic language curricula, the intersection of fine arts and Arabic calligraphy, drama and theater, and the role of Arabic literature in fostering tolerance.
HE Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, said in a statement: “Arabian Days is a celebration of the diverse world of Arabic– from its historical origins to the vibrant contemporary language of art, culture, poetry, and knowledge.”
What’s more, visitors will have the opportunity to engage with Arabic culture through live creations by Lebanese graffiti artist Georges Ekmekji and enjoy films at the pop-up cinema presented by Cinema Akil. The festival will also include bonfire storytelling, literary-themed workshops, historical re-enactments, and art exhibitions displaying the works of Kanz Al Jeel award finalists and Mahmoud Shubbar’s paintings portraying traditional Arabic stories with a contemporary twist. Arabian Days promises enriching experiences for all, whether Arabic is a native language or a new linguistic journey.
