Letters to the UAE, an initiative by Emirates Literature Foundation (@elfdubai), brings together powerful voices from across the country to share messages of hope, resilience, and identity. Featuring writers such as Nujoom Alghanem and Salha Obeaid. The project blends poetry with evocative visuals to create a deeply moving storytelling experience.
One of the featured letters by Nujoom Alghanem , paired with an intimate image of hands raised in prayer, reflects on protection and maternal care:
“At the threshold of every evening,
my mother’s voice never tired of reciting verses to keep it safe…
And the night… kept watch over its walls.” by Nujoom Alghanem
Another letter by Salha Obeaid, A reflection on how enduring dreams–carried through wakefulness, resilience, and identity–shape both people and الوطن (homeland), keeping the UAE alive as an infinite source of hope and purpose.
“You waver through your emotions–your thoughts, your anxieties, your anger, and your despair–yet something deeply rooted within you remains steadfast: the belief that dreams are extended timelines, never fading, never dying. A dream, in truth, belongs more to wakefulness than to sleep; otherwise, our human story would not exist without a being who continued to dream–beyond context, awake, persistent, and ever striving.
And in my homeland, the long dream carries vast horizons and many awakenings. Through us, it discovers itself, and we come to understand how deeply it is rooted within us–beyond the familiar, beyond expectation.
Remain alive and ever dreaming,
O first and infinite place, the United Arab Emirates.” by Salha Obeaid– (Translated to English)
Beyond the words themselves, the initiative underscores a larger truth: that storytelling remains one of the most powerful tools for connection. In times of uncertainty or change, it is often through shared narratives that communities find strength and solidarity. Letters to the UAE captures this essence beautifully, offering readers not just content, but comfort and inspiration.
Together, these pieces capture both the personal and the universal–linking memory, place, and emotion. Through bilingual storytelling and powerful visuals, Letters to the UAE reminds us of the enduring ability of words to connect, comfort, and inspire.
