European Union Celebrates European Day of Languages at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi
The European Union Delegation to the United Arab Emirates, together with Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and European Embassies and cultural institutes, celebrated the European Day of Languages at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, bringing together students, educators, diplomats and members of the community to discover Europe’s rich linguistic and cultural diversity.
The event highlighted the importance of learning languages as a way to connect people, understand different cultures and create opportunities for education, careers and international cooperation.
Representatives and language communities from across Europe took part in the celebration, showcasing languages and cultures from Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Ukraine.
Opening the event, Ambassador of the European Union to the UAE H.E. Lucie Berger underlined the role of languages in bringing people closer together and building bridges between communities.
“Languages are much more than words. They are a way of understanding people, cultures and different ways of seeing the world. They help us connect, discover new perspectives and build bridges between communities. The EU is home to 24 official languages, alongside many regional and minority languages. This diversity is part of what makes Europe so unique. Here in the UAE, we see every day how languages bring people together.”
In her opening remarks, Chancellor of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, Prof. Nathalie Braz, highlighted:
“As ‘A Bridge Between Civilisations’, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi brings together a community of 90 nationalities, with strong representation from across Europe. Within this vibrant exchange of cultures and perspectives, languages deepen our understanding of one another and enable us to share knowledge and expertise that advance societies. Celebrating the European Day of Languages reflects our belief that education must cultivate both intellectual ambition and openness to others, empowering a generation to transcend borders, collaborate across cultures and shape a shared future.”
The programme offered visitors a European Village, where participants could discover different European languages and cultures through interactive activities. Visitors were also invited to take part in language exchanges, offering them the opportunity to practise different languages through short conversations with native speakers and language enthusiasts.
A panel discussion on diplomatic careers and language skills brought together university students with H.E. Lucie Berger, EU Ambassador to the UAE; H.E. Rik Van Droogenbroeck, Ambassador of Belgium to the UAE; H.E. Maria Belovas, Ambassador of Estonia to the UAE; and H.E. Fergal Mythen, Ambassador of Ireland to the UAE. The panellists discussed the value of language skills in diplomatic careers and international cooperation.
The programme also featured a session on Erasmus+, highlighting opportunities for students and young people to study, train and gain international experience in Europe.
Music, dance and performance brought Europe's linguistic and cultural diversity to life throughout the evening. Audiences enjoyed Irish traditional music, an Italian roaming performance called “The Emirati Nonnina”, an Estonian performance featuring the kannel – a traditional Estonian string instrument – and traditional Ukrainian singing and dancing.
The evening concluded with multilingual karaoke, bringing participants together through music and celebrating the diversity of languages in a lively and informal setting.
The European Day of Languages was established by the Council of Europe in 2001 and is celebrated every year on 26 September. It promotes language learning, multilingualism and linguistic diversity across Europe and beyond.
The celebration in Abu Dhabi reflects the European Union’s broader engagement with the UAE in the fields of education, youth, culture and people-to-people exchanges, and the shared value placed on openness, diversity and dialogue.