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Nadine Labaki to headline Abu Dhabi congress on Arabic creativity
Renowned Arab filmmakers and creatives, including Lebanese actress and director Nadine Labaki, Tunisian Egyptian actress Hend Sabry, and Jordanian filmmaker Tima Shomali, will headline the Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries in Abu Dhabi from September 14 to 15.
Organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, the two-day event will delve into the evolving role of Arabic in the region’s burgeoning creative economy. It is set to feature a diverse lineup of cultural leaders, tech innovators, and emerging talent.
Labaki, known for her Oscar-nominated film Capernaum, Sabry for her celebrated roles in Arabic cinema and Netflix’s Finding Ola, and Shomali for co-creating and starring in Netflix’s AlRawabi School for Girls, will lead the panel “Her Narratives: Women Reimagining Arabic Creativity.” This session will explore the trio’s personal journeys, creative processes, and the challenges they have faced in shaping Arabic storytelling across film, literature, media, and digital platforms.
Another major highlight, “Whose Story Is It?”, will address originality versus adaptation in Arabic television. Featuring Egyptian screenwriter Mariam Naoum, Syrian poet Rami Koussa, and OSN executive Rolla Karam, the panel will explore how local remakes and original content influence identity and ownership in a globalized media landscape.
The congress will also host technology and media giants such as Google, AWS, TikTok, and Adobe. Key discussions will include themes like artificial intelligence, digital publishing, and content economy dynamics. A session titled “Creators, Capital, and Control” will feature executives from Snap, TikTok, and Meta, focusing on power structures in today’s digital economy.
Additionally, “Arabic Language Crisis and the Coming Shift” will examine the divide between Modern Standard Arabic and regional dialects, with insights from Dr. Ali bin Tamim, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, and language expert Dr. Hanada Taha Thomure.