Abu Dhabi forum looks at ways to safeguard Arabic language

More than 100 organisations participated in a forum organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development on the preservation of Arabic.

ABU DHABI // More than 100 organisations took part in the Arabic Language Forum organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development on Thursday.

The event looked at the role the media and the arts can play in safeguarding Arabic for future generations.

Under the twin themes of the Language of Culture and the Language of Arts, delegates examined how important Arabic is in the development of science and artistic expression.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, honoured the winners of the short story award and the first winners of the Year of Reading competitions.

Afra Al Sabri, undersecretary of the ministry, said Sheikh Nahyan took great interest in the work of the forum.

She said the minister is keen for the ministry to play an important role in keeping Arabic at the forefront of the UAE’s cultural development programs.

The event, held at the Hyatt Regency in Dubai, discussed the impact of new media on classical Arabic, during a forum led by Ayoub Yousif with the participation of a large group of young scholars.

A second discussion, titled Media and its Role in Promoting the Culture of Reading, was led by Ibrahim Al Ostaz of Dubai radio and attended by Sheikha Al Mutairi from Sharjah Radio.

The second session also included a workshop in theatrical diction led by artist Ibrahim Salem, while artists Habib Ghuloom Al Attar and Ahmed Al Jasmi joined director Adel Al Najjar in shedding new light on the arts and their impact on Arabic.