A cultural scene growing at an accelerating pace, with texts flowing and creative experiences jostling for space — against this backdrop, cultural seminars in the United Arab Emirates are emerging as vital platforms for restoring balance to the momentum, by reviving the voice of criticism and granting it the space its role deserves in reading and interpreting literary achievement.
Between the abundance of output and the rigour of analysis, a delicate equation is taking shape — one these seminars seek to entrench, not merely by hosting dialogue and exchanging ideas, but by striving to build a critical consciousness capable of accompanying creativity, holding it to account, and elevating it within a more mature and expansive cultural scene.
Engineer Azza bint Suleiman, founder of the "Reading Balcony" initiative — an interactive literary salon established in 2019 — affirmed that cultural seminars in the UAE have contributed noticeably to restoring the presence of critical discourse to the cultural scene, by opening spaces for dialogue on literature and thought and fostering broader public interest in cultural debate.
Speaking to Al Bayan, she explained that this role still requires further development, as some seminars continue to operate within limited elite circles or are characterised by a degree of rigidity. She noted that genuine criticism should be close to people — to their questions and daily experiences — rather than remaining confined to closed language or approaches detached from reality.
She pointed out that the spread of social media has compelled cultural seminars to renew their tools and language, and to become more capable of reach and impact, stressing that the inclusion of diverse segments of society is what gives these seminars their vitality and depth, as demonstrated by the experience of the "Reading Balcony."
She concluded that developing cultural seminars requires renewal in both form and content, and linking criticism to life, so that they may be transformed into effective platforms for producing an influential and sustainable cultural awareness.
Exchange of ideas
For his part, writer Sultan Al Zaabi affirmed the fundamental role that cultural seminars in the UAE have played in revitalising critical discourse, explaining that they have moved beyond merely hosting critical figures to become a sustained space for exchanging ideas and deconstructing literary texts.
He noted that this critical presence has become an inseparable part of the broader cultural scene, particularly with the growth of events accompanying literary exhibitions and awards, which he regarded as a vital space contributing to bridging the gap between critic and creator.
Despite these gains, Al Zaabi felt that the dialogue between creator and critic has not yet reached full maturity, pointing out that many seminars continue to carry an elitist character — whether in their academic language or the nature of their content — which places a barrier before reaching a wider readership.
In proposing developmental solutions, Al Zaabi stressed the need to link these seminars to tangible productive outcomes, suggesting the publication of seminar outputs in the form of specialised critical studies, and the adoption of research projects or ongoing workshops built upon what is raised in those sessions, as well as the use of modern technology and digital broadcasting to widen the circle of influence and transform the seminar from a mere temporary event into a sustainable platform for producing an effective critical discourse.
In closing, Sultan Al Zaabi highlighted the importance of the critical role in light of the emergence of new creators every year, noting that some nascent literary experiences may not reach the required levels at their outset. He stressed that maximising the role of the critical movement in this regard is a necessity for honing the skills of these writers, which ultimately serves to reinforce the comprehensive cultural dynamism the country is witnessing.