Abu dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has unveiled a pioneering research and documentation initiative aimed at preserving and promoting Al Razeef, a traditional poetic art form that stands as a significant cultural hallmark in the UAE. This endeavor is part of a series of documentation projects under the Kanz Al Jeel Award.
According to Emirates News Agency, the project seeks to maintain and rejuvenate an integral aspect of Emirati heritage, emphasizing the cultural importance of poetry, particularly Nabati poetry, as a mirror of society, identity, and collective memory. Al Razeef gained international acclaim in 2015 when it was added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, underscoring its cultural and human significance.
The ALC plans to publish the research in a comprehensive reference book that delves into Al Razeef's history, evolution, and cultural relevance. This initiative aims to document and preserve the art form as a living cultural asset, showcasing the richness of local dialect poetry as a true expression of Emirati identity and cultural heritage.
Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, Executive Director of the ALC, stated that this project aligns with the Centre's strategy to create sustainable cultural and knowledge assets while bolstering the creative economy. In an era dominated by digital transformation, the Centre's mission extends beyond preserving heritage to include systematic, scientific documentation that protects this legacy and ensures it remains a source of knowledge and inspiration for future generations, while also enhancing the global presence of Emirati culture.
Al Tunaiji highlighted that the project builds on the success of the Kanz Al Jeel Award in promoting the rich legacy of Nabati and folk poetry both regionally and globally. He noted that the initiative will contribute to developing a comprehensive academic and knowledge platform, offering researchers a reliable reference source by the latter half of 2027.
He further stressed that the project, culminating in the publication of an extensive reference work, will reaffirm Al Razeef's role as a symbol of Emirati identity while introducing it to broader audiences as a valuable cultural asset and a living element of humanity's shared heritage.
The research project will be overseen by a specialized team led by academic researcher Dr. Hamad bin Seray, with experts Ali Al Mughni, Jamee bin Salem Al Dhanhani, and Saif bin Obaid bin Huwaishal contributing. The team will document the Al Razeef art form, explore its distinctive performance styles across the country, and record the methods of reciting and chanting its poetry.
The project aims to document the rules and origins of Al Razeef through field observations and interviews with performers throughout the UAE. It will catalog the names of notable figures associated with the art form and record its oral narratives, ultimately producing a scientific and knowledge-based document that preserves its value and authenticity.
As a symbol of Emirati identity, Al Razeef is an improvised poetry that embodies strength, courage, pride, unity, and cohesion among community members, performed during social and national occasions. Historically accompanied by swords and rifles, these have been replaced by sticks in contemporary performances, classifying it among martial traditional arts that showcase resolve, capability, and readiness.
