European Day of Languages Brings Cultural Exchange to Abu Dhabi

European Day of Languages Brings Cultural Exchange to Abu Dhabi

With interactive activities, quizzes, and cultural performances, all designed to showcase the linguistic wealth of more than twenty European countries

The Delegation of the European Union to the United Arab Emirates organised a colourful celebration of Europe's linguistic and cultural richness marking the European Day of Languages. Hosted at the German International School Abu Dhabi, with the participation of a wide group of European embassies, the European Day of Languages offered a lively afternoon of language discovery, cultural exchange and learning opportunities.

The programme featured interactive activities, quizzes, and cultural performances, all designed to showcase the linguistic wealth of more than twenty European countries represented at the event, including Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Ukraine.

In her remarks, EU Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Lucie Berger, underlined the broader significance of the day:

"The European Union is not only a community of 27 countries and 450 million people; an exceptional place with a mix of various cultures, complex histories and ground-breaking ideas. Through this event, we hope our friends and partners in the UAE can explore the European language diversity, to make new connections and build friendships - because this is what learning languages is all about - empowering us to build relationships with people from all around the world."

The event also highlighted the strong presence of European schools, universities and cultural institutes in the UAE, which provide countless opportunities for language learning and cultural engagement.

Celebrated annually on 26 September, the European Day of Languages is a joint initiative of the European Union and the Council of Europe. With 24 official EU languages, and hundreds more spoken across the continent, the day serves as a reminder of the role language learning plays in building bridges between societies and fostering mutual respect.