The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has launched a groundbreaking tool called the ‘Relationship Strength with Arabic Language within Abu Dhabi Community’ Index. This initiative, aligned with the declaration of 2025 as the Year of Community, aims to measure and enhance the bond between the community and the Arabic language.
The index is built on a statistical model that evaluates how individuals, families, and institutions engage with Arabic. It considers how often people read, write, speak, and use Arabic digitally, especially within family settings and with children. It also tracks community involvement in Arabic language events and projects supported by ALC.
“This new index reflects our leadership’s vision of a connected society with strong ties to the Arabic language,” said Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC.
He highlighted that the index is part of broader efforts to promote cultural identity, foster national pride, and bridge generations and nationalities—including both native speakers and non-speakers of Arabic.
Arabic vs English: Perception Study Results
The ALC also revealed findings from its ongoing Arabic Language Perception Index, which surveyed over 6,000 residents aged 15+ in Abu Dhabi. The study compared how Arabic and English are perceived across three factors:
- Creativity Factor: Arabic ranked highest, praised for its aesthetic and creative content use.
- Cultural Factor: Arabic was seen as deeply connected to cultural heritage.
- Knowledge Factor: English led here, associated more with research and science.
Dr. bin Tamim noted that while speakers tend to favor their native languages, the evolution of perception is different, making it essential to understand linguistic dynamics through social sciences and humanities.
Shaping Future Language Policies
The new index aims to classify people into categories ranging from fully engaged to completely detached from the Arabic language. These insights will help design strategic initiatives to increase Arabic usage in science, culture, and creativity, and boost Arabic digital content production.
“Our goal is to ensure Arabic remains a vibrant language of knowledge and creativity,” Dr. bin Tamim concluded.
With this initiative, Abu Dhabi is taking a major step toward building a linguistically connected and culturally rich society.
