Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, attended the opening of the first-ever BilAraby Summit. The event marks a flagship initiative by Qatar Foundation to celebrate and promote the Arabic language and its cultural richness.
The two-day summit, held under the theme “Ideas Have a Voice and an Echo,” focuses on integrating Arabic into creative and scientific fields. Its goal is to empower Arab innovators to express ideas in their native language while embracing modern platforms.
Sheikha Hind toured interactive exhibits and creative spaces hosted by leading local and regional institutions. These spaces acted as a hub for knowledge-sharing, project showcases, and open dialogue, all within an atmosphere rooted in Arab identity and innovation.
The summit attracted more than 500 participants from across the Middle East, North Africa, and around the world. Attendees included policymakers, entrepreneurs, scholars, and creatives. The strong turnout underscores the summit’s cultural relevance and its role in blending the Arabic language with scientific and artistic progress.
Hisham Nourin, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives and Programs at Qatar Foundation, described the event as more than a summit. “BilAraby is a strategic expression of our belief that Arabic is not a language of the past, but of the future,” he said. “We view the preservation and advancement of Arabic as vital to building knowledge societies that innovate while staying connected to their roots.”
He added that Arabic is a language of creativity across all domains—from literature and the arts to science and technology. “We are committed to creating tools and platforms that help Arabic thrive in daily life, especially in digital spaces where thought leadership is being redefined.”
The opening day featured a diverse range of talks, performances, and discussions exploring Arabic’s evolving role. Celebrated musician Lotfi Bouchnak kicked off the summit with a performance steeped in cultural identity. Engineer Fidaa Al-Khashi followed with a talk titled “Identity is Untranslatable,” exploring the power of Arabic storytelling.
Engineer Razan Zaiter presented “Green Resistance,” emphasizing agriculture as a cultural and political act. Abdul Rahman Sayidi, a speaker from Mauritania, asked the thought-provoking question: “Do we work to live, or live to work?”The session closed with an inspiring lecture by aerospace engineer Diana Al-Sindi.
Other standout sessions included “The Illusion of Reality” by Salam Katanani, and “Each One of You is a Guardian” by Dr. Abdul Wahid Zainal. Lina Al-Thakir explored future challenges in “The Battle for the Future,” while storyteller Amer Darwish presented “So That Our Ships Do Not Remain Made of Paper.” The day ended with a powerful performance by Dr. Mustafa Said.
A major highlight was the announcement of the BilAraby logo design competition winner. The contest, launched in September 2024, drew over 1,500 submissions from across the Arab world. The winning logo, designed by Robin Khalil, fuses traditional Kufi script with a bold, modern flair. Its solid baseline symbolizes unity and stability, mirroring the initiative’s aim to connect Arabic-speaking communities through shared culture and creativity.
The summit has received strong backing from regional institutions, including the Misk Foundation. Misk presented its Majlis Athar Youth experience, emphasizing collaboration to uplift both language and youth. Other key partners 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 with a vibrant lineup of events. Highlights include a live performance by renowned calligrapher Karim Jabbari, as well as interactive labs, creative showcases, and open forums hosted at Majlis BilAraby and Manara BilAraby platforms.
In keeping with Qatar Foundation’s commitment to inclusivity, Arabic sign-language interpretation is available for all lectures. English translations are also being provided for the main sessions.
