QF and TED unveil first TEDinArabic regional event and extend global Arabic language partnership

The first regional event to be held through TEDinArabic - a groundbreaking initiative between Qatar Foundation and TED that is amplifying ideas in the Arabic language around the world – will take place in Doha this week, as the partnership between the two organizations is extended for a third year.

TEDinArabic was launched in July 2020 as TED’s first initiative dedicated to sharing solutions, inventions, and stories in Arabic. Since then, its website has been visited 36 million times and its videos have received 14 million views.

The inaugural TEDinArabic regional event will be held at 9am on December 9 as top TED speakers share their perspectives in Arabic with a live global audience, who can now register to attend or to watch online at tedinarabic.ted.com/en/wise-event. It comes as Qatar Foundation (QF) and TED have extended their original two-year partnership, which reflects Qatar Foundation’s (QF) commitment to preserving and celebrating the Arabic language and promoting its continuing use and relevance to the world.

“The shared belief of QF and TED in the power of ideas, and the importance of providing platforms for them to be communicated to the world, has driven the creation and growth of TEDinArabic, and the response to this initiative from across the Arabic-speaking world illustrates what the Arabic language means to so many millions of people,” said Aysha Al-Mudahka, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnership Development, QF.

“Through TEDinArabic, Arabic speakers the world over are projecting their ideas, solutions, and stories in this rich and vital language to a vast audience, shining a spotlight on thinking that is fresh, inventive, and challenging – in keeping with the best traditions of Arab knowledge and science.

“QF is proud to be partnering with TED to bring TEDinArabic to the world, with the extension of this partnership reflecting how it continues to engage, empower, and inspire Arabic speakers everywhere. The essence and value of this initiative will be further highlighted in the first TEDinArabic event, and we look forward to welcoming the Arabic-speaking world to this landmark showcase of ideas in the Arabic language.”

Lisa Choi Owens, Head of Partnerships, TED, said: “We are thrilled to witness the reach and impact the TEDinArabic initiative continues to have in the region through our partnership with Qatar Foundation.

“We couldn't be more excited to be able to convene in person in Doha this December to celebrate the launch of TEDinArabic regional events. What's unique about this initiative is the authentic connection with the Arabic-speaking communities we are building together by giving their ideas a platform to be empowered to speak up and share ideas with the world-- all in Arabic.

“Throughout the past 18 months, we have learned how interconnected the world is and we need to value our interconnectedness now more than ever. This is what TEDinArabic is all about."

Through TEDinArabic, an idea search with Arabic speaking countries will lead to 16 Arabic speakers who propose the most imaginative and inspiring ideas in the Arabic language being selected to give TED Talks at a flagship event in Doha in 2023, which will bring the renowned TED conference experience to the region.

This ideas search will be supported by three regional TEDinArabic events across the lifespan of the partnership, the first of which will take place on December 9 during the WISE 2021 Summit hosted by QF’s World Innovation Summit for Education. Hosted by Al Jazeera presenter Asma Al-Hammadi, the TED Session will welcome TED speakers Farah Al Taweel, a Qatari designer; Rana Dajani, scientist and professor at Hashemite University in Jordan; Mohammed Al-Janahi, Head of Outreach, Teach for Qatar; and architect and eco-tourism specialist Aziza Chaouni, a TED Fellow.

The partnership between QF and TED has also seen a customized digital destination created as a vault for TEDinArabic’s content library, enabling high-quality content in the Arabic language – including blogs, TED-Ed video lessons, and custom video content – to be amplified across the world. The TEDinArabic website and content will remain live and accessible even after the culmination of the partnership.