The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre announced the launch of an initiative to document Al Razeef, a traditional Emirati poetic art, framing it explicitly as a living cultural asset within the UAE’s broader heritage preservation strategy. According to a statement from the centre distributed by the Emirates News Agency, the project will involve systematic collection of poems, field recordings of performances and interviews with practitioners to build a comprehensive digital and printed archive. The centre’s assessment found that Al Razeef, characterised by its distinctive rhythm and improvisational style often performed at social gatherings, risks fading without active intervention. Officials at the centre noted that the effort will also produce academic studies and public events to ensure the art form remains vibrant for future generations.
A centre statement emphasised that the documentation process will classify poems by theme, meter and historical context while partnering with local poets and cultural institutions to capture authentic interpretations. The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre reported that initial phases have already begun with fieldwork in communities where the tradition is still practiced, focusing on both written manuscripts and oral transmissions passed through generations. This approach aligns with similar past efforts by the centre that have preserved other Nabati poetry forms, according to its published records of previous cultural projects.
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, which oversees the centre, has supported multiple heritage documentation programs over the past decade, with figures from the authority showing more than a dozen initiatives targeting intangible cultural elements since 2015. In its announcement, the centre highlighted how Al Razeef serves as an important vehicle for expressing social values, history and community identity in Emirati Bedouin culture. Data from the authority places the number of active practitioners at a declining figure, underscoring the urgency of the new project.
Collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Social Security and Pension forms a key part of the project, the centre said, as the partnership will help engage retired poets and community elders who hold significant knowledge of the art. The joint effort will facilitate workshops and recording sessions designed to transfer skills to younger participants, according to details outlined in the centre’s statement. Such intergenerational programs have proven effective in other UAE cultural preservation projects, a centre evaluation of prior work indicated.
Emirates News Agency reporting on the launch noted that the project includes plans for publications, exhibitions and digital platforms to make Al Razeef accessible to a wider audience both locally and internationally. The centre stated that by treating the poetic art as a living tradition rather than a static relic, the initiative seeks to encourage contemporary adaptations while maintaining its core elements. Additional phases will incorporate comparative studies with similar poetic forms across the Gulf region, the announcement added.
