An Arabic digital library will be created through a new partnership between the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and Amazon.
The initiative was announced as part of Sunday’s opening day of the International Congress of Arabic and Creative Industries at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
In his opening keynote address, Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) chairman Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said the library aims to make Arabic books more accessible than ever by combining the centre's curatorial expertise with Amazon's technological distribution capabilities.
While the launch date has yet to be revealed, the new library will join the Dubai Digital Library in expanding Arabic digital resources in the region.
Launched in 2018, Dubai's collection has grown to more than 245,000 titles – including books, audiobooks, periodicals, newspapers, magazines and research papers.
Al Mubarak described the agreement, along with the congress, which gathered more than 100 regional and international speakers from the creative industries, as underlining Abu Dhabi’s position as one of the world’s cultural hubs.
“Abu Dhabi is a global platform from which authentic Arabic narratives can emerge. It is a city proud of its heritage and identity, while also building bridges of creativity and diversity at the heart of the emirates,” he said.
“Today we prove that with our local voices we can enrich global culture, and that Arab creators’ voices are capable of reaching audiences everywhere, contributing to human connection and dialogue.”
Also presented on Sunday were the findings of a survey of Arab youth, which highlighted both pride in the Arabic language and concern about its future.
Commissioned by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and based on interviews with about 4,000 young people across 10 Arab countries, the study pointed to calls for a more practical approach to the language in how it is taught and harnessed by education and cultural institutions.
While 84 per cent of respondents said Arabic is central to their identity, two-thirds worry about its diminishing use in science and digital domains.
On employment in the creative industries – which Al Mubarak noted at the 2024 Culture Summit Abu Dhabi employ more than 400,000 people in the UAE and contribute four per cent of GDP – more than 40 per cent of Arab youth said they would consider a role in the sector.
However, they also cited limited opportunities (41 per cent), financial risk (38 per cent) and family or social pressure (one-third) as key obstacles.
The congress concludes on Monday with panels examining recent breakthroughs in Arabic large language models, shifts in how Modern Standard Arabic and regional dialects are used, and the importance of digital manuscript restoration, in a session led by Zayed National Museum director Peter Magee.
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
SCORES IN BRIEF
Lahore Qalandars 186 for 4 in 19.4 overs
(Sohail 100,Phil Salt 37 not out, Bilal Irshad 30, Josh Poysden 2-26)
bt Yorkshire Vikings 184 for 5 in 20 overs
(Jonathan Tattersall 36, Harry Brook 37, Gary Ballance 33, Adam Lyth 32, Shaheen Afridi 2-36).
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
TOUR DE FRANCE INFO
Dates: July 1-23
Distance: 3,540km
Stages: 21
Number of teams: 22
Number of riders: 198
MATCH INFO
Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE
Top 10 most polluted cities
- Bhiwadi, India
- Ghaziabad, India
- Hotan, China
- Delhi, India
- Jaunpur, India
- Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Noida, India
- Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- Peshawar, Pakistan
- Bagpat, India
