The UAE Cultural Days launched in the Spanish capital, Madrid, yesterday, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, as part of efforts to highlight Emirati culture and history.

The event, which runs until Wednesday, October 18th, was launched with the participation of a number of Emirati intellectuals and writers, including writer Khaled Al Dhanhani, Executive Director of the Zayed’s Ambassadors Initiative, Dr. Talal Al Junaibi, university professor, writer and poet, and novelist Iman Al Yousef, and aims to spread UAE culture and introduce Emirati creativity while strengthening cultural communication between the two countries.

Organised by the Zayed’s Ambassadors Initiative in co-operation with the Casa Arabe, the El Retiro Public Library and the University Complutense Madrid in Spain, it is being held under the theme, "UAE: The Bridge of Cultures".

The official opening of UAE Cultural Days was held at the headquarters of Casa Arabe, or Arab House, in Madrid, which is run under the auspices of Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, in the attendance of a large number of guests including heads and representatives of Arab and foreign diplomatic missions in Madrid, Arab and foreign journalists, and Spanish academics.

In her speech on the occasion, the UAE Ambassador to Spain, Dr. Hessa Al Otaiba said that activities like UAE Cultural Days help promote dialogue and cultural communication between the two countries by introducing the Spanish population to UAE culture and heritage, stressing the importance of building dialogue among all countries, civilizations and peoples.