'Cradle of Culture': HSE University-St Petersburg Brings Together Guests from Eight Countries at Arab Countries Festival
HSE University-St Petersburg hosted the Arab Culture Day. About 100 guests from Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon, Algeria, and other countries got acquainted with the history of the Persian Gulf states, tried on traditional costumes, and tasted Oriental food.
The Arab Culture Day has been held at HSE University-St Petersburg for the second time and has become a platform for the exchange of cultural traditions between employees and students from various countries. At the event, guests learned about Arab dances, music, and writing, and tested their knowledge with quizzes on the history of countries in the Middle East.
Habiba Abdelgelil, 3rd-year student of the Bachelor's programme 'Political Science and World Politics', shared the story of how a new HSE tradition appeared.
'I got the idea to organise the Arab Culture Day last year. To tell about my native Egypt and the countries in the Arabian Peninsula, I teamed up with other international students and organised everything from scratch. We made a splash and got lots of positive feedback. This time, the event was even larger: we made the tasks harder, added more music and dances, so that the guests could truly dive into the festive atmosphere', said Habiba Abdelgelil.
Manoj Sharma, vice-president of HSE University-St Petersburg, highlighted the special role of Arab countries in the development of the academic environment and global culture.
'The Arab civilisation gave us outstanding inventions in various spheres of art and sciences. Musical, philosophical and literary achievements still inspire people all around the globe. This festival is created to remind us that culture is more than just history and traditions. It is also people whose experience helps to create something new together’, stated Manoj Sharma.
In 2026, the Russian-Arabic Culture Centre joined the festival—it is one of the largest diaspora communities in St Petersburg. Its employees took part in a presentation. The guests showed a special interest in a workshop on calligraphy during which everyone could learn the ancient art of writing with a qalam, a reed pen.
'For many years, our team has been organising the awareness-raising events about the Arab culture. Today, I am representing my second motherland, Syria, and my colleagues are introducing Jordan. We are very glad to cooperate with HSE University-St Petersburg. Seeing so many guests today is the best reward', commented Marina Sadyk, co-organiser, secretary for the youth policy at the Centre.
Representatives from Morocco, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Yemen staged a fashion show in national costumes. And everyone could listen to the stringed instrument oud, and try on the traditional Arab headdress—keffiyeh.
'I'm from Iraq, and today's festival allowed me to connect with my native culture and communicate in my native language with the representatives of other Arab countries. I am very grateful to HSE University-St Petersburg for this opportunity', shared Ahmed Khammat, a guest of HSE University-St Petersburg.
At the end of the festival, guests could take part in the workshop on dabkeh dances and try national cuisine: the salad Tabbouleh, falafel, kibbeh, dolma, hoshafi (a drink of dried dates) and the dessert Basbousa.
Ivana Angjelovska
Manager at the International Student and Alumni Centre
For the second time, the Arab Culture Day gathers students from various countries and universities in St Petersburg. Our festival is a unique opportunity to get to know the diversity of the Middle Eastern culture and each other. Through a dialogue, we exchange knowledge, get new impressions and become friends.
