Winter Programme 2025 Wraps Up: UAE Ministry Of Culture Highlights Arabic Language And Emirati Customs For Youth

The Ministry of Culture has wrapped up its Winter Programme 2025, themed ‘Language of the Quran and Emirati Customs’, held with Sandooq Al Watan and several cultural and community partners. The initiative delivered 56 events at three cultural centres, attracting 820 participants aged six and above from different parts of the UAE.

The programme sought to deepen national identity among children and youth, while boosting awareness of the Arabic language and Emirati customs. Sessions were designed to support knowledge, creativity and values at the same time, using interactive formats that encouraged participation and made learning accessible for young audiences during the school holiday period.

Events were hosted at the Ministry’s Cultural Centres in Al Dhafra, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah, creating a network of venues that served local communities. The Winter Programme is an annual initiative run during school breaks, offering purposeful activities that help develop cognitive and artistic abilities and encourage young participants to engage with cultural content in structured settings.

To highlight the programme’s scale, the Ministry of Culture reported the following distribution of events and participation across the three centres, reflecting the geographic reach of Winter Programme 2025 and the diversity of its audience.

Mubarak Al Nakhi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, stated, "The programme’s high-participation rate is a reflection of our ongoing efforts to strengthen national identity and heritage connection among young people, with the support of Sandooq Al Watan and our esteemed partners. The unique event created a rich educational environment that facilitates creative expression and talent development, opening up new horizons for innovation." He further stated, "Such trailblazing ventures highlight our long-standing vision to develop the nation’s cultural ecosystem, enhancing the role of cultural centres in providing youth with knowledge and heritage values, while promoting creativity and sustainable learning."

Workshops focused on a wide range of topics, including the Arabic language, the Holy Quran, Emirati customs and everyday values. Other sessions covered visual arts, animation, Emirati cuisine, traditional shipbuilding and short story writing. Activities were structured to balance learning with enjoyment, in spaces that encouraged creative exploration alongside language practice and cultural awareness.

The schedule also included educational visits to museums and heritage landmarks, giving participants a direct view of Emirati cultural heritage. These trips supported creative thinking and teamwork skills, while strengthening social responsibility and a sense of belonging. The experiences helped participants identify personal talents and practise creative self-expression through guided tasks and collaborative projects.

The Winter Programme forms part of a broader framework of cultural initiatives organised by the Ministry of Culture across the year. These programmes aim to consolidate national identity, promote the Arabic language and highlight Emirati values in arts and knowledge sectors. Through such sustained work, the Ministry seeks to support a cohesive society that contributes to the UAE’s long-term sustainable development goals.

With inputs from WAM