The President of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre in the UAE, Ali bin Tamim, has announced that Egyptian writer and intellectual Taha Hussein will be the central figure for the Abu Dhabi Book Fair 2022, which will be held next May.
Bin Tamim said during a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing Cairo International Book Fair that the centre selected Taha Hussein in appreciation of his role to enrich Arab culture.
He added that Hussein enriched the Arabic library with unrepeatable works that laid the foundations of the Arabic language as a language of science, arts, and literature.
He said, “We do not only honour Taha Hussein, but this blessed land [Egypt] whose cultural contribution has not and will not end.”
He stressed that the projects and initiatives of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre to consolidate the status of the Arabic language aims to achieve the Emirates’ vision to create a bright future for the Arabic language and to devote its presence as a language of science, knowledge and creativity.
Saeed Hamdan, Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, said that this year’s edition of the Abu Dhabi Book Fair will be an exceptional one.
He added that the celebration of Taha Hussein will not only take place during the exhibition, but will start from this month between Cairo and Abu Dhabi.
Salah Fadl, President of the Academy of the Arabic Language in Cairo, praised the Abu Dhabi Centre’s selection of Hussein as the central figure for the Book Fair, stressing that this reflects the strong relationship between Egypt and the UAE and their keenness to appreciate the two countries’ symbols in culture and various fields of creativity.
He stressed that this initiative reflects the loyalty of the Abu Dhabi Centre to one of the builders of Arab culture.
Taha Hussein was one of the most influential 20th century Egyptian writers and intellectuals.
