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Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center Launches 2nd Edition of ‘Arabian Days’ Festival

The festival reaffirms Abu Dhabi’s commitment to promoting Arabic as a dynamic and relevant language for the present era.
The festival reaffirms Abu Dhabi’s commitment to promoting Arabic as a dynamic and relevant language for the present era.
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Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center Launches 2nd Edition of ‘Arabian Days’ Festival

The festival reaffirms Abu Dhabi’s commitment to promoting Arabic as a dynamic and relevant language for the present era.
The festival reaffirms Abu Dhabi’s commitment to promoting Arabic as a dynamic and relevant language for the present era.

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center is set to host the second edition of the ‘Arabian Days’ festival from December 14 to 16, at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

Coinciding with the World Arabic Language Day, declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), this festival reaffirms Abu Dhabi’s commitment to promoting Arabic as a dynamic and relevant language for the present era. By highlighting its integration with modern technologies, the festival aims to showcase the beauty and versatility of Arabic language and culture, while preserving its rich heritage and identity, WAM said.

The festival will commence with a keynote address by Dr. Roy Casagranda, a University Expert and Professor of Political Science at the United Arab Emirates University. Dr. Casagranda is recognized as one of the leading researchers on Arab civilizations. He combines his inspiring vision with a deep academic background to underscore the pivotal role of the Arabic language in shaping the course of humanity.

Casagranda will take center stage at the ‘Thought Leaders’ sessions, one of the festival’s premier events. In his keynote speech, he will delve into the rich history of Arab civilization, showcasing its pivotal role in shaping the course of human history.

The ‘Thought Leaders’ sessions will delve into the current status of the Arabic language, its intersections with modern technology, and its potential in the age of AI. Casagranda will also provide valuable insights into the historical milestones that highlight the enduring significance of Arabic as a language of communication, creativity, and innovation.

The ‘Arab Luminaries’ event will also celebrate the groundbreaking contributions of scientists like Jabir ibn Hayyan, who laid the foundation of modern chemistry, and Ahmed Zewail, an Egyptian-born chemist who was the first Arab to win the Nobel prize for Chemistry.

The festival will further boast a rich cultural program that caters to diverse interests of individuals, including Arabic and non-Arabic speakers. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore a gallery of finalist artworks of the “Kanz Al Jeel” Award and immerse themselves in richness and beauty of the Arabic language across various art forms. Another remarkable highlight is the ‘Bonfire Storytelling Sessions’, which bring Arab folk heritage to life.

The festival will offer a unique opportunity for aspiring Arabic media professionals to enhance their skills through a ‘CNN Arabic bootcamp’ in collaboration with CNN Arabia. This initiative aligns with the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center’s commitment to nurturing talent and enabling them to benefit from global experiences in the media industry.

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Culture

Syria's Aleppo Set for Revival Despite War Scars to its Heritage

During the four years of fighting before Assad's forces recaptured Aleppo following a devastating siege, the city was virtually emptied - AFP
During the four years of fighting before Assad's forces recaptured Aleppo following a devastating siege, the city was virtually emptied - AFP
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Syria's Aleppo Set for Revival Despite War Scars to its Heritage

During the four years of fighting before Assad's forces recaptured Aleppo following a devastating siege, the city was virtually emptied - AFP
During the four years of fighting before Assad's forces recaptured Aleppo following a devastating siege, the city was virtually emptied - AFP

The historic Baron Hotel in Syria's Aleppo is dilapidated and damaged by years of war but still standing and ready for a revival, much like the city itself.

Aleppo's old city, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, was ravaged by the conflict that erupted after a government crackdown on protests in 2011.

Between 2012 and 2016, it became a battleground between Syria's military and opposition factions.

The army of now-ousted president Bashar al-Assad shelled opposition fighters from the ground and struck them from the air, supported by Russian firepower.
Opposition groups, meanwhile, used mortars and artisanal rockets, as the fighting turned ancient streets into sniper alleys.

During the four years of fighting before the government recaptured Aleppo following a devastating siege, the city was virtually emptied.

Now, after Assad's fall following a lightning opposition offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, residents are looking forward to reconstruction.

"Unfortunately, more than 60 percent of the edifices in the old city, monuments of the old city of Aleppo, were devastated to ground zero," said Georges Edleby, a tour guide in the city for 35 years.

"Hopefully there will be a day that we see them again restored."

The ancient souks where Aleppo's famed olive oil soap is piled up in stacks for sale has been reduced in many places to little more than rubble.

- 'Hope for a better life' -

Aleppo's medieval citadel, however, remains relatively intact.

Opposition fighters, one with a rose slipped into the barrel of his gun, stood guard outside the ancient ramparts, which Syria's army turned into a stronghold during the war.

Most of the damage in the citadel was caused by a 2023 earthquake, locals say.

Below in the old city, a few alleys of the souk -- once the largest in the world with 4,000 stalls -- have reopened after being restored, including with Saudi financial aid.

Jamal Habbal, 66, has spent all his life under the stone vaults of the old city and reopened his macrame and rope shop there a year ago.

"We have so many memories here. It was a big market that was vibrant and lively. Girls used to come to buy items for their trousseaus. They could find everything," he told AFP.

"And then suddenly, the crisis," he said, reluctant to even say the word war.

"We had to leave. I returned in 2018, but it's still difficult," he added, speaking in a dark and largely deserted alley.

Fadel Fadel has also reopened his shop offering souvenirs, soap and mother-of-pearl inlaid boxes.

"It was completely destroyed here," said the 51-year-old.

He is hoping to see Aleppo returned to its status as a "center of commerce, industry and tourism."

"We hope for a better life."

- Museum ready to reopen -

Outside, dusty streets wind between ruins that await reconstruction and revival.

The Baron Hotel once welcomed Agatha Christie, Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser and France's Charles de Gaulle.

Visitors flocked to see the somewhat faded glory of its rooms, as well as its terrace and the unpaid bar bill belonging to one Lawrence of Arabia.

But now, several broken windows adorned with shutters hanging from a single hinge offer a view into a deserted building covered in dust.

The hotel's future is uncertain.

Its last owner, Armen Mazloumian, has passed away. He told AFP back in 2014 that he felt the hotel's glory days were behind it and it would "never be what it once was again".

Nearby, however, the National Museum of Aleppo is readying to reopen. Its courtyard was hit in shelling but its building and collection were spared.

Director Ahmed Othman said the museum "took lessons from the experience of our neighbours," including institutions in Iraq and Lebanon.

"We took the necessary measures to protect our collections," he said.

"The statues that were too heavy to move were encased in concrete and the smaller pieces were moved to safe places."

Treasures that trace nine millennia of history and the birth of writing in nearby Mesopotamia have been preserved unharmed as a result.

"We did many things in order to protect the museum as a whole," said Othman