PURPOSE: Arabic Language Day is celebrated every year on 18 December since 2012. The date coincides with the day in 1973 that the United Nations General Assembly adopted Arabic as the sixth official language of the Organization. The objectives of the U.N. Arabic Language Day is to promote equal use of all six official working languages throughout the organization and to celebrate multilingualism, as a core value, and cultural diversity. The celebration of the Arabic Language day aims to acknowledge the contribution of the ‘Arabic language’ in enriching science, philosophy, literature, art and universal culture. The day is also an opportunity to look into the status and the future of one of the most widely spoken languages across the globe.

FORUM: “Arabic Language and AI: Advancing Innovation While Preserving Cultural Heritage.” Arabic Language Day 2024. This year, we reflect on the evolving role of Arabic in a rapidly changing digital landscape. While artificial intelligence and technological advancements offer opportunities to expand Arabic’s global presence, they also highlight the need to safeguard the language’s authenticity and heritage for future generations. This edition will highlight language's importance in reuniting for a constructive dialogue, shaping perceptions, and cultivating understanding in the current global landscape marked by uncertainties and turbulence. Through this year’s theme UNESCO will shed a light on the numerous contributions of Arabic to humanity’s cultural and linguistic diversity, as well as to knowledge production. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #ArabicLanguageDay, #18December, #Arabiclanguage, #Multilingualism.

EVENTS: At UNESCO Headquarters in Paris; On December 18th; The celebration of World Arabic Language Day 2024 will be held from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm GMT. The UNESCO organizes round table discussions and cultural performances under the theme “Arabic Language and AI – Advancing Innovation While Preserving Cultural Heritage,” to emphasize how modern technology can support the evolution of the Arabic language while safeguarding its rich traditions. You are invited to join the event to explore role of AI in advancing Arabic language. This year’s commemoration also coincides with the 51st anniversary of the proclamation of Arabic as one of the six UN official languages. To pay tribute to the poetic and artistic brilliance of the Arabic language, UNESCO will bring together researchers, academics, youth, and heads of international institutions.

PRIZES: Applicants to the Prize for Arab culture must have contributed significantly towards the development, dissemination and the promotion of Arab culture in the world.The winners of the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture will be announced. The event will serve as a solid platform to delve into the discussions while fostering cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. Register to Participate!

At United Nations Office at Nairobi; the Permanent Delegation of the League of Arab States to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva invites participants to reflect on preserving and promoting linguistic diversity, as a key bridge to uniting cultures and peoples in our shared human experience. Protecting and promoting all languages, including Arabic, ensures cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. Watch the livestream!

At the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), the Head of the Permanent Observer Mission for the League of Arab States will held a virtual event to mark the day.

Side Event: Additionally, as part of this initiative, a side event will be organized to reflect on the initial outcomes and highlights of the forthcoming publication focused on the role of Arabic in social inclusion and its preservation within the Arabic-speaking communities of Europe while promoting their integration into host societies. To register, please click here

EXHIBITION: Witness the exhibition showcasing the achievements in advancing the Arabic language under ‘Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Programme for the Arabic Language at UNESCO’ from the December 18th to 22nd. The programme has fostered intercultural dialogue, enriched linguistic diversity through its projects and initiatives, promoted knowledge production and dissemination in Arabic, and, last but not least, endorsed the annual flagship event: World Arabic Language Day.

STATEMENTS: Read the Joint Message from Ms. Noha Bawazir, UNESCO Representative in Jordan, & Ms. Souha Bawab, Executive Director of Friends of Jordan Festivals on Arabic Language Day 2024.