Dubai, UAE, 14 April 2022: The Emirates Literature Foundation and the Wikimedians of the UAE User Group are co-creating the ultimate guide to Ramadan in the UAE together with members of the Wikipedia community on the 16 April. The editathon will bring together and shed light on key aspects of Emirati traditions in Arabic, and the article will later be translated into English for a wider audience. 

 

Covering important aspects of the culture in the UAE, the article will include Hag Al Laila, the Ramadan crescent moon sighting, Iftar, worship, and traditions such as charity tents, sharing a meal with family, and much more. 

 

The organisers ask each participant to select one area to research, reference and write about, with all parts joined up and published as one comprehensive article at the end. In the true spirit of Ramadan, all participants are invited to stay for Suhoor at the event location at the Emirates Literature Foundation’s home, the Dubai International Writers’ Centre in Al Shindagha Historical Neighbourhood.  

 

To join the editathon, any prospective participants will need to register on this website form and bring along their laptops to the evening event. Anyone registering to take part will also be sent easy-to-follow instructions for how to create a Wikipedia article, and they will receive a certificate of appreciation.  

Since Emirates Literature Foundation launched the Kateb Maktub initiative, which led to the team taking on the Wikimedians of UAE User Group, it has successfully increased the number of pages of Arab authors on Wikipedia, in both Arabic and English, by more than 500%, and it has a large number of keen volunteers.