Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD) – The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) is participating in the 79th Festival d’Avignon (Avignon Festival) with a rich cultural programme that explores the aesthetics of the Arabic language and the richness of Arabic literature, poetry, and cultural and artistic heritage. The Festival will be held from July 5 to 26, 2025 in the southeastern French city of Avignon.
In collaboration with its strategic partner, the Arab World Institute, the ALC will present an extensive cultural programme highlighting Arab art and offering French, European, and international visitors an insight into Arabic literature, poetry, and music. The Centre’s participation is part of the Festival’s celebration of the Arabic language as Guest of Honour – an annual tradition in which the Festival celebrates a language that contributes to the enrichment of the global cultural scene.
This year, the Festival has chosen to pay homage to Arabic in recognition of its status as a language of culture, art, and creativity, highlighting its rich literary and artistic heritage, as well as its role in shaping the global cultural landscape.
The Centre’s agenda for the Festival includes a special evening on July 14 at the Cour du lycée Saint-Joseph to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum. The event will include the release of a book compiled by the ALC tracing her career, allowing visitors to explore her cultural and artistic legacy, and her lasting influence across generations.
The following day, on July 15, the Centre will host a poetry night, bringing together a distinguished panel of Arab poets, with a special focus on Emirati talent, reflecting the dynamic literary scene in the region.
Dr Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, said: "The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre’s participation in the Avignon Festival will open doors for French and European audiences to discover the beauty of the Arabic language and the unique features that characterise its literary, intellectual, and artistic heritage, which further enriches cultural exchanges between different cultures and peoples".
"Since its inception, the Avignon Festival has gained a prestigious position for its role in transforming art into a language of intercultural dialogue. I was delighted by the Festival director’s description of Arabic – this year’s Guest of Honour at – as a language of light, dialogue and knowledge. It is an accurate description that truly reflects a knowledge and appreciation of Arabic language, culture, and arts, in line with our plans at the Centre’s to elevate the status of the Arabic language, highlight its beauty, and increase its visibility through literature and art, firmly positioning it as a premier language for communication and connection between cultures," Bin Tamim added.
The ALC Chairman praised the Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute in Paris) – the Centre’s strategic partner – for its exceptional efforts, "The Institute plays a remarkable role, rooted in a genuine appreciation of the status that Arabic enjoys as the language of a great civilisation, which ranks as the fifth most widely spoken language in the world, and the second most widely spoken in France".
"The Institute is headed by a man who truly understands the value of the Arabic language and with whom we share a vision. Jack Lang is leading serious efforts to revive Arabic, which was one of France’s languages for over five centuries, in public education. He is also the author of "La langue arabe - Trésor de la France" (The Arabic Language - Treasure of France), which recounts the history of Arabic and its vast contributions to human civilisation," , Bin Tamim said.
For his part, Jack Lang, President of the Arab World Institute in Paris, expressed his appreciation for the ALC and its Chairman for their role in supporting the Arabic language and its presence, ensuring its continuity and role in intercultural exchange and fostering dialogue among civilisations.
"We share a common vision with the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, and a belief that the Arabic language, in all its richness and beauty, is a bridge between nations and a source of creativity that continues to inspire the world. Our partnership with the Centre enriches our efforts to revive the Arabic language and restore it to its rightful place in education, media, and public life, as well as a central pillar of human civilisation," Lang said.
