The second day of the Ramadan Forum for Quran Calligraphy, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development at the Festival City in Dubai, under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, witnessed a great turnout from a large number of cultural leaders, calligraphy lovers in addition to a large number of foreigners visiting the UAE. Many of them expressed their admiration for the great works by the calligraphers participating in the forum and kept an eye on them as they scripted the words of God in Al Thuluth font for the first time. The jury also followed up on what the calligraphers have achieved so far and the forum will conclude with honoring the best calligraphers participating at the ninth session of the Forum. His Excellency Mohammed Al-Murr praised the great role played by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development in support of the Islamic arts, especially the Arabic calligraphy and Islamic ornamentation. He further praised the generous patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development of the Forum, which has become one of the major cultural events on the international art agenda for Islamic arts in the world. Al Murr stressed that the Ramadan Forum for Quran Calligraphy has significantly contributed to the development of Arabic calligraphy, noting that this year’s session is witnessing a major challenge of writing a full copy of the Holy Quran in Al Thuluth font for the first time, adding that what has been achieved so far reflects the distinct level of all participants in the session. On his part, His Excellency Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health, said that the ninth session of the Ramadan Forum for Quran Calligraphy witnessed huge developments and a qualitative leap in terms of is organization and the artistic and creative levels of the participants. His Excellency further stressed that the forum was able to accomplish a lot for the benefit of Islamic arts during its nine sessions , the forum added to the value of Islamic arts and highlighted the value and position of Arabic calligraphy. Al Owais also praised the great efforts exerted by His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, to develop the forum becoming a prominent global platform in promoting the value of calligraphy and Islamic arts, in addition to sponsoring hundreds of international creative. His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Health Authority in Dubai, was also keen to visit the Ramadan Forum for Quran calligraphy and praised the excellent level of calligraphers participating from 16 Arab, Islamic and European countries. His Excellency also praised the level of the exhibition held on the sidelines of the forum which is home to valuable treasures reflecting genuine creativity of Islamic art in the fields of ornamentation and Arabic calligraphy signed by world calligraphers and artists. On a related note, His Excellency Sultan Saqr Al Suwaidi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Culture and Science Symposium, said that the UAE has become the leader of Arab and Islamic countries in the field of supporting and sponsoring Islamic arts and Arabic calligraphy. This comes as a result of the care and support of our wise leadership and their constant directives to cultural bodies and institutions to organize local and international exhibitions and events which now attracts the most important international artists and calligraphers. The writer Abdul Ghafar Hussein also praised the efforts of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development in supporting this field, in addition to the efforts exerted by the Ministry in supporting and sponsoring Islamic arts and culture. Ramadan Forum for Quran Calligraphy For the first time in the Ramadan Forum for Quran Calligraphy 2 women; Fatima Saeed from the UAE and Nooria Gracia from Spain, participate in the forum. They received great attention from the audience. The Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development provided time periods for the public to interact with the calligraphers and learn about their creative works, schools and strengths. The jury will meet tomorrow to prepare the final report and write its recommendations on the forum.