The third and final performance as part of the inaugural Literature and Music Festival organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT – Abu Dhabi) brought festivities celebrating the Arabic Language to a successful close yesterday at Umm Al Emarat Park.

With a shadow puppet theatre show engaging families and children by the Arab Puppet Theatre Foundation, The Gift told the unique story of an elephant that was gifted to Carolingian emperor Charlemagne by the Abbasid caliph Harun Al Rashid.

The week-long initiative celebrating World Arabic Language Day was organised by DCT – Abu Dhabi to serve as a forum for artists, scholars, writers, musicians and people interested in the fusion of literature and music. In commemoration of Emirati heritage and traditions in order to stimulate creativity and originality, residents and visitors had the chance to learn how music and literature are intertwined and how they can influence and inspire each other through a selection of curated performances. Visitors to the festival also enjoyed spectacular light shows depicting the beauty of the Arabic language on the walls of Manarat al Saadiyat.

World Arabic Day, which falls annually on 18th December, was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2010 to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity. December 18th was chosen to commemorate the day when the United Nations General Assembly approved Arabic as an official UN language in 1973.