2 weeks Ago By Qatar Tribune
Qatar tribune He added, “We believe Arabic, with all its cultural depth and expressive power, is a language of creativity in every field – from literature and arts to science and technology. Therefore, we are committed to creating the resources and platforms that make Arabic more fluid in daily life, especially in the digital space where knowledge and thought leadership are being redefined.” The opening day featured a diverse lineup of talks, performances, and conversations exploring how Arabic can shape, and be shaped by, today’s world.
Renowned artist Lotfi Bouchnak opened the Summit with a musical performance steeped in identity. His performance was followed by Engineer Fidaa Al-Khashi, who reflected on the power of Arabic storytelling in a talk titled “Identity is Untranslatable”. Another talk titled “Green Resistance” featured Engineer Razan Zaiter, who discussed the significance of agriculture as a cultural and political act.
Other talks during the opening session saw Abdul Rahman Sayidi, a speaker from Mauritania, pose a provocative question in his talk, “Do we work to live, or live to work?” and lastly, Diana Al-Sindi, an aerospace engineer, rounded off the opening session with an inspiring lecture on her journey from Iraq to space science, titled “Space in Arabic”. Other sessions during the course of the day included “The Illusion of Reality” by Salam Katanani; “Each One of You is a Guardian” by Dr Abdul Wahid Zainal; “The Battle for the Future” by Lina Al-Thakir; and “So That Our Ships Do Not Remain Made of Paper” by storyteller Amer Darwish. The day closed with a powerful artistic performance by Dr Mustafa Said.
A highlight of the day was the announcement of the winner of the BilAraby logo design competition, which attracted over 1,500 submissions from across the Arab world since its launch in September 2024. The competition challenged designers to create a logo embodying the essence of the initiative and its ambitious vision for the future. The winning logo, designed by Robin Khalil, draws from traditional Kufi script and is reimagined with a bold, modern twist.
Its strong baseline symbolizes unity and stability, which, along with the contemporary design, reflects the initiative’s mission to connect Arabic-speaking communities through a shared cultural and creative identity. The Summit has received widespread support from regional cultural and educational institutions, most notably the Misk Foundation, which presented its Majlis Athar Youth experience during a dedicated session, emphasizing the importance of Arab collaboration in empowering both language and youth. Other key partners feature prominent Arab cultural institutions that contributed to the Summit’s dialogue sessions, enriching the intellectual and creative experiences of participants.
These include QatarDebate, Qatar Foundation International, Qatar Reads, The Diwan, Al Sharq Forum, Sowt podcast, the Syrian Youth Council, Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s Fanar Project, ArabiQuest, and Sard Media Group. BilAraby Summit continues on Sunday, April 20, with a rich lineup of sessions, including a live performance by calligrapher Karim Jabbari. There will also be interactive labs, creative showcases, and open discussions at Majlis BilAraby and Manara BilAraby platforms.
Reflecting Qatar Foundation’s commitment to inclusivity, Arabic sign-language interpretation will be available for the Summit’s lectures, alongside English translations for the main sessions. Copy 20/04/2025 10.
