Page 15 - MBRF PR REPORT - December 2023

Press Release

MBRF commemorates World Arabic Language Day 2023 at

UNESCO HQ in Paris

19 December 2023 – The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF)

joined UNESCO at its headquarters in Paris to celebrate World Arabic Language Day 2023. The

th
event, themed ‘Arabic: The Language of Poetry and the Arts,’ coincides with the 50 anniversary
of the declaration of the Arabic language as the sixth official language in the United Nations.

The celebration aimed to underscore the significance of Arabic as one of the most widespread

and utilized languages globally, spoken by over 400 million people worldwide. The activities of the
World Arabic Language Day celebrations entailed three-panel sessions: ‘Philosophy and Poetry:

The Contribution of Arabic Poetry in Shaping Knowledge and Social Transformations;’ ‘Arabic
Language and the Arts: Expanding the Horizons of Cultural Diversity;’ and ‘Arab Latinos: The Arab

Influence in Latin America and the Caribbean.’ An additional panel session titled ‘The Arabic

Language in the Foreign Land: The Vitality of the Arabic Language and Social Cohesion in Europe’
was also organized.

Furthermore, the cultural events also included an exhibition titled ‘Building Bridges of

Understanding and Respect: The Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Programme for Arabic

Language’ that showcased the achievements of the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Programme for Arabic Language at UNESCO.

His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of the MBRF, participated in the panel discussion titled

‘The Arabic Language and the Arts: Expanding the Horizons of Cultural Diversity,’ where he
highlighted the UAE’s commitment to preserving the cultural heritage of the region. His

Excellency also emphasized the UAE’s relentless efforts to launch numerous innovative initiatives
and programs that improve intellectual momentum and cultural movement. Bin Huwaireb pointed

out that the UAE places a high priority on the Arabic language, stressing that the UAE aims to

raise the language’s profile, encourage its use in the digital era, and draw attention to its many
unique characteristics that enable it to keep up with the swift advancements across various fields.