Under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) announced the launch of the second edition of the “We Write in Arabic” initiative, in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Visa Inc., Zain Bahrain, and Bahrain Writers Association.

The initiative aims to strengthen the status of the Arabic language and link it to creativity and innovation through a national initiative targeting the 10-35 age group, which includes four main categories: short stories, graphic novels, poetry, and novels, with cash prizes of up to BD 1,000 for each winner in each category and the publication of the literary works in a book dedicated to the initiative.

This initiative is part of the bank's strategy to support community development and reinforce its ongoing commitment to investing in promising national talent from the new generation to build a strong base of local talent capable of leading the future.

On the occasion, Ayman bin Tawfiq Al-Moayyad, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, said: "This initiative embodies the vision of the leadership in empowering young people and promoting their creativity. The Arabic language is not just a means of expression, but a vast space for creativity and innovation. Our participation confirms our belief in the ability of young people to shape the future with their language and identity."

Dr. Ramzan bin Abdullah Al-Nuaimi, Minister of Information, affirmed the Ministry's pride in participating in this initiative for the second consecutive year, noting that it embodies the keenness to preserve the status of the Arabic language in the cultural identity of the Kingdom of Bahrain and to ensure its use as a tool for communication and creativity between generations, as it is a fundamental source of strengthening belonging and pride in the national identity.

For his part, Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education, emphasized the importance of such initiatives that encourage interest in the Arabic language, reinforcing the role of the Ministry of Education and schools to increase students' connection to their mother tongue and highlight their literary talents through its use as a primary means of expression. He also praised the partnership with Bahrain Islamic Bank and other institutions for the success of the initiative.

For her part, Rawan bint Najeeb Tawfiqi, Minister of Youth Affairs, said: “The ‘We Write in Arabic’ initiative opens up new avenues for Bahraini youth to express themselves. We believe in their ability to transform language into a tool for creativity and influence. Our partnership is a testament to our belief in their leading role in building the future.”

Fatema Al-Alawi, Chief Executive Officer of Bahrain Islamic Bank, said: “We are proud to launch the second edition of the ‘We Write in Arabic’ initiative with great pride, following the inspiring success of the first edition. The initiative is not just a literary competition, but a renewed commitment to our cultural identity and a platform that enables our youth to express their creative visions in their mother tongue, the language that carries our features and values.”

Ali Bailoun, Regional General Manager of Visa in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman, commented: "Our participation in this initiative embodies Visa's commitment to building partnerships that are rooted in local communities. Our partnerships extend beyond economic, technical and financial aspects to include community partnerships that enhance positive impact, provide a brighter vision for the future, and support innovation and digital transformation. We are proud of this partnership and look forward to participating in more community initiatives in the Kingdom of Bahrain.”

Mohammed Zainalabedin, Managing Director of Zain Bahrain, said: “The Arabic language is more than just a linguistic heritage; it is both a language of thought and technology. Our vision at Zain Bahrain is focused on empowering future generations to use their language as a tool for innovation in a rapidly changing digital world, and we are proud to be a strategic partner in this initiative that promotes cultural identity.”

Dr. Rashed Najem, President of the Bahrain Writers Association, concluded: “We are proud of this cultural partnership that brings literature and young people together. This platform allows us to discover promising writers and build a bridge between literary creativity and national identity. We are proud to be partnering with this initiative for the second year in a row because of its tangible positive impact.”

Registration is now open for participation in the "We Write in Arabic" initiative via a dedicated online platform, with entries to be evaluated by a committee of distinguished writers and academics. The initiative's agenda will also include interactive events and workshops, concluding with an awards ceremony for the winners to coincide with World Arabic Language Day.