PARIS — Saudi Arabia inaugurated on Monday the first Arab Week at the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris in an event organized by the Arab Group at the UNESCO. The event was attended by the group's permanent Arab representatives, several ambassadors, Arab and international diplomats in France, and a group of UNESCO officials and leaders. The event, marking the first of its kind in the Arab world in over half a century, was officially launched by Jordanian Ambassador to France Leena Al-Hadid, who also serves as the chair of the Arab Group at UNESCO. Al-Hadid emphasized that the event provides a unique opportunity to spotlight the rich cultural heritage of the Arab world that spans centuries, referring to the region's extensive contributions to science, philosophy, literature, and arts. During the launch, Al-Hadid extended the Arab Group's appreciation to Saudi Arabia for its valuable initiative and to Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah for his efforts and support in making this exceptional event possible for the Arab countries, which drew significant cultural participation from various nations. Throughout Arab Week at UNESCO, 22 booths representing the Arab countries are showcasing their cultural heritage, history, and elements of their civilizations, interacting with visitors, engaging audiences, and boosting cultural ties among organizers and attendees from around the globe. The event also features seven seminars covering topics such as language, calligraphy, Arabic literature, artificial intelligence, education and fine arts, intangible cultural heritage, and world heritage. The seminars attracted academic institutions, experts, and specialists from the fields of education, culture, and science, aimed to reach ambitious ideas based on deep research rooted in Arab experiences tied to centuries-long heritage, civilization, and history.
