The Committee,

1. Having examined document LHE/22/17.COM/6.a Rev.,
2. Recalling Chapter V of the Operational Directives and its Decision 12.COM 11.a.6,
3. Expresses its appreciation to United Arab Emirates for submitting, on time, its first report on the status of the element ‘Al Azi, the art of performing praise, pride and fortitude poetry’, inscribed in 2017 on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding;
4. Takes note of the efforts undertaken by the State Party to safeguard the element, in particular through its dissemination and promotion, support for folk art troupes for performing the element, including at annual festivals and other relevant events, providing training possibilities to youth in educational institutions, ensuring participatory safeguarding, and succeeding to increase the number of practitioners;
5. Further takes note of the efforts of community members, organizations and institutions to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, by using online modalities for performances and workshops, engaging communities remotely in reporting, as well as reflecting the pandemic experiences in the practice of the element;
6. Encourages the State Party to pursue its efforts to sustain the practice of the element by supporting its bearers, providing training opportunities for developing skills of poets and other practitioners, continuing to train youth in educational institutions in cooperation with practitioners, ensuring educational materials for awareness-raising, and continuing research, publication, dissemination and promotion of the element;
7. Invites the State Party to continue taking particular heed so as to avoid the possible negative consequences of safeguarding efforts, such as over-commercialization of the element;
8. Requests that the Secretariat inform the State Party at least nine months prior to the deadline of 15 December 2025 about the required submission of its next report on the status of this element.