Arabic in the Digital Age: AUK at the Emirates Literature Festival

Group photo of the AUK delegates with the festival organizers

Students from the American University of Kuwait (AUK) participated in the International Youth Program at the 17th Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2025, organized by the Emirates Literature Foundation. The event included 250 participants from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, Sorbonne, and Carnegie Mellon.

AUK was represented by Dr. Mohammad Akbar, associate professor of communication, and students Rana Abu Salah and Ayah Al-Bitar, selected for their academic excellence and literary potential, with full sponsorship from the foundation.

Dr. Mohammed Akbar with AUK students Rana and Ayah at the festival

A key highlight was a roundtable on the future of Arabic language studies in media. Dr. Akbar and renowned scholars discussed the decline in Arabic proficiency due to other languages' dominance, teaching inconsistencies, and lack of digital resources. Solutions included integrating AI, fostering international collaborations, and connecting classical Arabic studies with modern disciplines.

AUK’s participation marked a milestone in enhancing Kuwait’s intellectual and literary presence globally, enriching the delegates' academic journey and positioning AUK as a key player in international literary discourse.