PARIS — The Arab Group at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is organizing the Arab Week at UNESCO from November 4-5. Being held for the first time in more than half a century after Arab countries started to work with UNESCO, the initiative, at the organization's headquarters in the French capital, Paris, is organized at the behest of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science. The event has the tacit support of Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Farhan, who directed to enhance levels of coordination and understanding with countries to find common ground from which to launch development initiatives at various levels. The Arab Week at UNESCO involves cultural and artistic exhibitions, including a market for Arab cultural products, an exhibition on Arabic calligraphy, and another on photographs of heritage sites in the Arab world registered with UNESCO, in addition to an Arab music pavilion, an Arab cooking event, a pavilion on Arab handicrafts, and another on Arab fashion. It will also include a symposium on the Arabic novel, another on artificial intelligence, a symposium on Arabic calligraphy, and a symposium on children's literature. The accompanying shows will include an Arabic calligraphy competition, a display of works by artists and designers, in addition to a display on the art of sand drawing. The "Arab Week at UNESCO" initiative reflects the efforts made by Saudi Arabia to support efforts that serve cultural communication between Arab countries and the countries of the world, which made the initiative gain the support of all Arab countries. Arab Ministers of Culture agreed to establish the initiative at the meeting of the ALECSO in May 2024 in Jeddah. It's also expected to achieve results in strengthening the position of Arab culture in UNESCO, developing new partnerships between Arab countries, UNESCO and other member states, promoting intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding, ensuring the sustainability of the UNESCO Arab Week initiative and ensuring its long-term success, and motivating young people to take an interest in Arab culture.
