Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) and Amazon Alexa partner to broaden Arabic content accessibility
The Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries 2025, organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), took place at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, focusing on “Arabic Creativity Reimagined: Innovation in Storytelling and Audience Engagement”. The event explored the evolving landscape of Arabic creativity and its impact worldwide.
The Economic Power of Culture
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, emphasized the significant role of cultural and creative industries in the global economy, estimating their annual value at over US$2.3 trillion, about 3% of global GDP. He noted the increasing global interest in cultural diversity, offering an opportunity for Arab creativity to gain international recognition and attract new investments.
Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Vision
Al Mubarak outlined Abu Dhabi’s vision to become a regional and global hub supporting cultural transformation, particularly through the Cultural District on Saadiyat Island. This district is designed to connect people globally and serve as a platform for diverse cultural and creative institutions. Ongoing programs and initiatives aim to support cultural and creative industries while reflecting local cultural values and engaging with the global narrative.
Digital Accessibility Through Amazon Alexa
A key highlight was the partnership between the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and Amazon Alexa to create the world’s largest digital library of Arabic content. This initiative aims to provide thousands of Arabic books in various formats, leveraging Abu Dhabi’s publishing expertise and Amazon’s distribution technologies to share Arab culture with a global audience. Al Mubarak emphasized that this will enhance the accessibility of Arabic literature in the digital space, offering Arab creators unique opportunities to reach a broad and multicultural audience.
Event Discussions and Future Insights
The congress featured panel discussions and dialogues on topics such as the power of personal storytelling in the age of AI, the importance of authenticity and diversity in the face of technological change, the role of women in creative narratives, and the growth of the Arabic audiobook market. The event also included the unveiling of new reports on Arab creative industries and their economic impact through 2030, providing insights for decision-makers and investors.
Abu Dhabi aims to enrich global culture with authentic Arab narratives, empowering Arab creators to inspire people worldwide.
Infographic Idea:
Title: Growth of Arabic Creative Industries
- Bar Graph: A bar graph showing the projected economic impact of Arab creative industries through 2030, based on the new reports unveiled at the congress.
- Pie Chart: A pie chart illustrating the estimated annual value of cultural and creative industries in the global economy (US$2.3 trillion, approximately 3% of global GDP).
- World Map: A world map highlighting Abu Dhabi’s position as a regional and global hub for cultural transformation and the reach of Arabic content through the Amazon Alexa partnership.