International "Arabic Language Week: Central Asia / Kazakhstan" has begun at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

On November 11, 2025, a grand opening ceremony of the international "Arabic Language Week: Central Asia / Kazakhstan" was held at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University as part of the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud International Language Training Program. This year's theme is "Features of Teaching Arabic in Conducting Islamic and Religious Studies."

The event was organized by the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Charitable Foundation and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - ISESCO, in partnership with the Faculty of Philosophy and Political Science of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

The guests were received by the Chairman of the Board - Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University J.K. Tuimebayev, where general issues were discussed. At the formal gathering, the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Bekzhan Meirbayev, spoke, introducing the guests and briefly outlining the history of relations between KazNU and ISESCO. Dr. Suleiman al-Omari, Head of Operations at the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Charitable Foundation, and Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Maqoushi, Deputy Director General, highlighted the work done by the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Charitable Foundation and shared plans for the future.

ISESCO Representative Dr. Anas Hussam Saeed Al-Nuaimi said: "Speaking on behalf of the Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - ISESCO, His Excellency Dr. Salim bin Mohammed al-Malik, I express my gratitude and appreciation to the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, ISESCO, and the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Charitable Foundation for organizing this special program - the "Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud International Language Training Program," noting that the decision to organize this week in Kazakhstan is not accidental. After all, it was from the Kazakh steppe that the famous scholar al-Farabi emerged, who contributed not only to the Muslim world but also to the development of world civilization. Dr. Anas Hussam Saeed Al-Nuaimi concluded his speech with poetic lines of his own composition, demonstrating the beauty of the Arabic language. The Deputy Secretary General of the National Commission for UNESCO and ISESCO Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Bakbergen Koishibayev, and the Secretary of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Turki al-Maliki, participated in this meeting and delivered speeches.

Ainura Kurmanaliyeva, Head of the Department of Religious Studies and Cultural Studies at the Faculty of Philosophy and Political Science, emphasized the relevance of using the Arabic language in Islamic studies and proposed opening an ISESCO research center at KazNU.

As part of the week, seminars and master classes will be organized with the participation of ISESCO experts and orientalist scholars. The seminars will focus on innovative approaches to teaching Arabic, new methods of scientific communication, and the role of Arabic in conveying cultural and spiritual values.

The international event "Arabic Language Week: Central Asia / Kazakhstan" is one of the important initiatives of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in the field of international cooperation and cultural diplomacy. This week will give impetus to strengthening educational, scientific, and cultural ties between Kazakhstan and the Islamic world, as well as expanding KazNU's international partnerships.

The event, held as a result of the partnership between the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Charitable Foundation and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), contributed to the promotion of the Arabic language not only as a linguistic subject but also as an important tool for spiritual and scientific integration. Through seminars and master classes held within the university walls, participants gain a deeper understanding of the specifics of Arabic language use in Islamic studies and religious studies.

This event has enhanced the reputation of KazNU as a leading scientific and cultural center not only in Kazakhstan but also in the entire Central Asian region. The university will continue its long-standing tradition and will remain an important platform for developing dialogue and mutual understanding at the global level.