World Arabic Language Day 2026
A UNESCO day celebrating the Arabic language and its contribution to culture, science and civilisation.
Next date
Friday, December 18, 2026
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Quick facts
- Date
- December 18
- Day of the week
- Friday in 2026
- Type
- International
- Observed in
- Global
- First observed
- 2012
- Established by
- UNESCO
- Hashtag
- #ArabicLanguageDay
Overview
World Arabic Language Day is celebrated on December 18. Arabic is spoken by hundreds of millions of people and is one of the six official languages of the United Nations.
History
On December 18, 1973, the UN General Assembly adopted Arabic as an official language of the UN. UNESCO began celebrating World Arabic Language Day on this date in 2012.
How to celebrate
1
Try calligraphy
Explore the art of Arabic calligraphy.
2
Learn a few words
Start with greetings such as marhaban (hello) and shukran (thank you).
Wishes and messages
Greeting card
Style
A 1080 × 1080 image, ready for WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram.
Social media captions
One language, many voices. #ArabicLanguageDay
World Arabic Language Day dates
| Year | Date | Day of the week | Days from today |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 18 | Friday | 45 |
| 2027 | December 18 | Saturday | 410 |
| 2028 | December 18 | Monday | 776 |
| 2029 | December 18 | Tuesday | 1,141 |
| 2030 | December 18 | Wednesday | 1,506 |
| 2031 | December 18 | Thursday | 1,871 |
Frequently asked questions
When is World Arabic Language Day?
Every year on December 18.
Last updated November 2, 2026