King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language (KSGAAL) has released a digital toolkit titled “Proud of It” to mark World Arabic Language Day 2023. The initiative aims to enrich celebrations across government and private institutions as well as among individuals, highlighting the Kingdom’s leadership and steadfast commitment to supporting the Arabic language. The toolkit was shared with more than 120 organizations and coincides with the United Nations General Assembly Resolution No. 3190 (XXVIII) of December 18, 1973, which recognized Arabic as one of the UN’s official and working languages.

The KSGAAL digital toolkit offers diverse linguistic content, creative ideas, and engaging resources celebrating the Arabic language. It reflects the Academy’s dedication to honoring Arabic, enhancing its global presence, supporting institutions in their Arabic language initiatives, and empowering individuals working in this field on the occasion of World Arabic Language Day 2023.

The toolkit comprises thirteen sections featuring an introduction to KSGAAL and its most notable projects dedicated to promoting and preserving the Arabic language. It highlights the Academy’s role in fostering Arabic as a language of dialogue and cultural exchange and includes a thematic overview of World Arabic Language Day, information on the relationship between Arabic and cultural identity, statements by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on the importance of Arabic, and sample social media posts to encourage public engagement.

One of the toolkit’s notable sections, “Those Who Loved Classical Arabic,” presents brief biographies of Saudi, Arab, and Islamic figures who have played key roles in advancing the Arabic language, such as Mahmoud Shaker, a staunch defender of Arabic against Westernization, and Abdullah bin Khamees, one of the pioneers of Saudi literature.

The digital package also features educational materials, competitions, and activities designed to deepen children’s and youth’s appreciation for Arabic. It provides ideas for celebrating the day, such as the “Eloquent Employee” initiative, and includes downloadable posters, greeting cards, and editable designs. It also offers recommended readings to enhance users’ knowledge of the Arabic language. (Click here to download the toolkit.)

To mark the occasion, KSGAAL is organizing a range of national and international programs, conferences, and seminars. Among them is a special celebration at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA, titled “Fifty Years Since Arabic Became an Official Language of the United Nations,” taking place from December 18 to 20, 2023. The Academy will also host an event in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture on December 17 under the theme “Arabic: The Language of Poetry and the Arts.”

Additionally, KSGAAL is partnering with several Saudi universities and institutions, including King Saud University (Riyadh), King Faisal University (Al-Ahsa), Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University (Dammam), King Abdulaziz University (Jeddah), the Islamic University (Medina), and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, to organize awareness sessions, academic lectures, and competitions that highlight the theme of World Arabic Language Day 2023.

UNESCO has designated “Arabic: The Language of Poetry and the Arts” as the theme for World Arabic Language Day 2023, recognizing the language’s profound influence in shaping knowledge and cultural transformation through poetry and the arts, while fostering cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue.

It is worth noting that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia played a leading role in the adoption of UN General Assembly Resolution No. 3190 (XXVIII) in 1973, which recognized Arabic as an official and working language of the United Nations, an achievement that continues to raise global awareness of the richness, history, and evolution of the Arabic language through dedicated programs and events.