In an exceptional celebration marking the anniversary of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3190, which designated Arabic as an official international language, the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States organised today its principal event to commemorate World Arabic Language Day, held under the theme “Teaching Arabic to Non-Native Speakers: Context and Achievements.”
The celebration was the outcome of close strategic cooperation between the General Secretariat and the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language, aimed at highlighting Arabic not merely as a historical legacy, but as a living language of communication and a form of soft power capable of embracing diverse cultures and building bridges of understanding among peoples.
The Grand Hall at the headquarters of the General Secretariat witnessed a notable diplomatic and cultural presence, led by a distinguished group of ambassadors and representatives of accredited foreign diplomatic missions, reflecting the growing international interest in the status and global role of the Arabic language.
In a scene embodying national cohesion, the ceremony was attended by prominent religious and cultural figures, foremost among them His Eminence Dr. Nazir Ayyad, Grand Mufti of Egypt, alongside a representative of the Egyptian Church, Father Tadros Daniel, Professor of Arabic at the Theological Seminary, a high-level delegation from the Egyptian Family House, and scholars from Al-Azhar. This gathering underscored Arabic as a cultural pillar and a unifying vessel through which diverse intellectual and social perspectives converge.
The ceremony also featured notable participation by international students studying at Al-Azhar. Young men and women from various nationalities and continents gathered at the event, united by the eloquence of the Arabic language despite their diverse mother tongues, offering a vivid and practical testament to the language’s flexibility and its remarkable ability to transcend geographical boundaries and unify human thought.
On the academic level, the event focused on four main themes addressing the future of the Arabic language. These included an overview of Arabic language education in universities and international centres; an examination of the most significant challenges faced by non-native learners and ways to address them; an exploration of the role of artificial intelligence and digital transformation in facilitating the learning and dissemination of Arabic; and a concluding session reviewing pioneering initiatives presented by Arab institutions, most notably the King Salman Global Academy, to promote the language internationally.
At the conclusion of the event, the General Secretariat affirmed that this significant momentum reflects the League’s sense of national responsibility in preserving cultural identity, as well as its sustained efforts to present the Arabic language to the world in a contemporary manner befitting its rich heritage and promising future.
