Kazakhstan's Astana Becomes Hub for Arabic Language Day

Kazakhstan's capital Astana has turned into a vibrant crossroads of language and culture as an exhibition celebrating International Arabic Language Day brought together diplomats, students and city residents under one roof.

Held at Maqsut Narikbayev University, the event gathered more than 300 participants and featured colorful embassy stands representing 13 Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, the UAE, Qatar and Palestine, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Each stand showcased the rich linguistic, cultural and academic heritage of the Arab world.

The exhibition was jointly organized with the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Kazakhstan and supported by Arab diplomatic missions. Visitors sampled national beverages and traditional sweets, explored Arabic-language textbooks and cultural publications, and learned about centuries-old traditions from across the Middle East and North Africa.

Speaking at the opening, Talgat Narikbayev, Chairman of the Board of Maqsut Narikbayev University, highlighted the deep historical roots of Arabic in the region.

“For centuries, the Kazakh steppe was part of a shared cultural and intellectual space in which Arabic functioned as the language of science, philosophy, law and scholarship,” he said, stressing that languages serve as “bridges between civilizations.”

The exhibition also offered hands-on experiences. Guests had their names written in Arabic calligraphy, tried traditional henna painting, and joined a virtual reality tour of Mecca, drawing strong interest from young visitors.

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Faisal Hanif Al-Qahtani, emphasized the growing enthusiasm among youth and the historical importance of the Arabic language for Central Asia.

“Many great scholars of the Muslim world originated from this region, including Abu Nasr al-Farabi,” he noted, recalling that Arabic became the sixth official language of the United Nations on December 18, 1973.

Today, Arabic is spoken by over 450 million people worldwide and holds official status in about 25 countries, underscoring its global reach and enduring influence.

Earlier, it was also reported that Saudi Arabia unveiled a new retail brand dedicated to promoting and selling Saudi handicrafts, further highlighting the kingdom’s efforts to showcase its cultural heritage globally.