The Ministry of Culture and Youth has revealed the details of the second edition of Al Burda Festival to be held at Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo 2020 Dubai from December 19-21. The three-day festival is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, under the theme ‘Transcending spaces, discovering the world’. The festival coincides with the UAE’s 50th anniversary and carries the message of openness, coexistence, and tolerance.
Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth said: "Al Burda Festival honors Islamic arts, and the greatness of Islamic civilization. The festival aspires to promote tolerance and human and cultural interaction through Islamic art, which epitomizes the rich heritage and values of the great Islamic civilization.”
Her Excellency explained: “The Ministry of Culture and Youth opts to see the world as a better place through art and culture. We want to use art as a medium of communication between people from different cultures and backgrounds in the hope to forge stronger human connections for a brighter future. This is the underlying principle of Al Burda Award since its launch 17 years ago. Launched in 2018, Al Burda Festival celebrates Islamic creativity and has grown into a very significant global event in the cultural field, in general, and in the field of Islamic art. The festival promotes Islamic civilization, culture, and history through the arts."
Her Excellency noted that the UAE, since its inception, has been an incubator of culture and diversity, with more than 200 nationalities living in the country. “Al Burda Award highlights the role of UAE in enshrining the idea of human convergence. This year the 16th iteration of the award has attracted more than 1,557 entries from more than 56 countries around the world. Since its launch in 2004, Al Burda has felicitated more than 300 artists worldwide in its main categories. The award has been an important vehicle to promote our culture and heritage by showcasing traditional Islamic arts.”
