Dubai is giving Arabic the spotlight it deserves, and this year the celebration hit a whole new level. Held to mark the opening of the International Arabic Language Conference, the 8th Mohammed Bin Rashid Arabic Language Award took place under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, with H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in attendance. The occasion honoured the people, organisations and groups doing standout work to spread and preserve Arabic both inside and beyond the UAE.
A Record-Breaking Year For Arabic
The numbers tell the story. This edition pulled in the biggest field yet, with entries flooding in from 65 countries, a 76% jump on last year that signals booming global interest in Arabic language projects. Open across education, technology, media and Arabization, the award proves just how versatile Arabic is as a language of the future. Standout initiatives this year included the Global Curriculum Initiative for Teaching Arabic to Children from Egypt, the Simah Certificate from France, and the Dar Academies Project from the UAE.
Uniting Nations Through Language
Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Chairman of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library Foundation, stressed that the award exists to spotlight the importance of Arabic and use it as a language to unite nations, while sustaining the language and fuelling fresh development. The vision aligns with Sheikha Latifa's call to back projects that develop Arabic as a vital part of culture and world heritage. Since launch, the award has handed out over AED 2.8 million in prizes and saluted more than 60 winners who have powered Arabic forward around the world.
