UAE to introduce Arabic Language Law by 2027 to protect identity, boost cultural role

A comprehensive policy to improve the role of the Arabic language in the country will include a wide-range of government initiatives across various sectors between 2026 and 2027 including an Arabic Language Law, according to the UAE Government.

The 10 year vision was showcased by the Ministry of Culture at a recent session of the Federal National Council (FNC). The presentation stressed that safeguarding the language and firmly rooting it in the Emirati community constitutes a national priority requiring a sound governance model.

The Ministry reiterated that safeguarding cultural security and preserving the identity of the UAE society under a policy of developmental openness requires legislation and executive measures in this regard.

The 2026-2027 roadmap

The drafting of the law as well as the executive regulations regulating it is what lies at the core of government plans to issue in 2023. The legislature then intends to establish a strong legal foundation for protecting and promoting the language in all domains.

In connection with the new law, and for the 2026-2027 period, the Ministry of Culture has announced some major projects underway:

• National Roadmap of sharing learning file to promote literacy culture.

• Cultural policies directed towards children and families, to instil the values around language from an early age.

• Improving the arts programmes in the Ministry’s cultural centres across the country.

• Initiating national cultural programs for documentation and promotion of Arabic language and heritage.

Amid increasing challenges, the Ministry has spearheaded new campaigns to solidify a proper structural and administrative infrastructure for Arabic in governmental bodies extremely at federal-level departments.

Key recent milestones include:

• Conformation of National Indicators to measure the rates of usage of Arabic language throughout the country.

• Establishing the National Identity Strategy that places the Arabic language as its foundation.

• A national governance model through the ‘National Identity Committee’

• Conducting a feasibility study for the future Arabic Language Law.

• The development strategy for the literary and arts sector.

Globally, the UAE continued to assert itself, with notable acknowledgements including securing Arabic calligraphy with UNESCO and promoting the globally recognised Al-Burdah Award among others.

A decade of transformative milestones

The government’s commitment to Arabic is not new; it has been continuously growing and injecting investment in the past decade. The Ministry outlined a timeline of important federal events that have brought us to the current situation:

• 2012: Launch of initiatives that transformed the Arabic language, including the Arabic Language Charter which celebrates preserving and developing it, with a particular focus on enriching its educational use; and the Advisory Council; as well as promoting reading among Arabs through immeasurable development projects such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Award for Distinguished Academic Performance and the Arab Reading Challenge.

• 2016: The enactment of the National Reading Law, the first piece of legislation ever created to encourage a reading community.

• 2018 : Embassy projects, particularly the Arabic Language Report, ministerial summits and Declaration of the Arabic Language aimed at strengthening regional dialogue pertaining to issues facing the Arabic language.

• 2023: Enactment of the new Media Regulation Law, replacing 1980 Publications and Publishing Law with strong support for Arabic production as well as literary and artistic production.

• This continuing commitment at the national level is locally reflected through ongoing infrastructural development of public and specialized (academic) libraries, theatres, media platforms, research institutions and Arabic language centres across the nation.

The UAE also launched many platforms that celebrate the language including international book fairs and educational policies dedicated to the Arabic language.

Arabic takes centre stage — UAE new language law will preserve national identity, physical heritage by 2027. Subscribe to Just Dubai to get the latest news!