• "Fanar" is the first Arab artificial intelligence model designed to understand Arabic, including its dialects.
• Fanar was trained on over 300 billion words and 7 billion parameters for natural language processing.
• "Fanar" supports text and voice interaction as well as image generation capabilities.
• "Fanar" reflects Qatar's commitment to integrating technology with Arab and Islamic cultural identity.

His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, inaugurated Fanar – The Arab Artificial Intelligence Project during the opening of the World Summit AI Qatar 2024, held under the patronage of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology on December 10, 2024. "Fanar" represents a significant milestone, underscoring Qatar's dedication to elevating the Arabic language and culture in the AI era. The project is the result of a fruitful collaboration between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Hamad Bin Khalifa University, a member of Qatar Foundation.

"Fanar" is a groundbreaking model developed to achieve an in-depth understanding of Arabic in all its dimensions, encompassing diverse dialects and cultural expressions. It is built on an extensive database of more than 300 billion words and over a trillion Arabic phonetic segments, enabling creative ability to generate, write, summarize, rephrase, or explain texts with exceptional efficiency. With an advanced technical architecture comprising seven billion parameters, it ensures flexible and rapid data processing.

In this regard, His Excellency Mr. Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, remarked: “The Fanar project exemplifies Qatar's commitment to supporting research projects and transforming them into strategic governmental initiatives that position Qatar as a leader in artificial intelligence and modern technologies. Fanar is not merely a digital project, but a comprehensive vision aimed at creating a global impact. It is an ambitious initiative that seeks to empower the Arab community with advanced tools that respect our cultural identity and contribute to achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030. In this context, I extend my gratitude to Qatar Foundation and the Qatar Computing Research Institute for their outstanding efforts in developing this ambitious project."

The Fanar project marks a pivotal step in the advancement of modern Arabic technologies. The project began as an integrated research initiative within the Qatar Computing Research Institute and was later adopted and supported by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The project aims to equip Qatari and Arab communities with cutting-edge AI tools tailored to their specific needs, aligning with the National AI Strategy and the Digital Agenda 2030, which prioritize digital innovation as the cornerstone of building a thriving digital economy.

Dr. Ahmad M. Hasnah, President of Hamad Bin Khalifa University, emphasized the significance of the project, stating: “In line with Qatar National Vision 2030, Fanar is a further reflection of our university’s commitment to developing responses to challenges of national and global relevance which enhance the country’s prowess in the field of AI and related technologies based on the Arabic language. This can only be achieved by actively leveraging synergies with renowned partners like MCIT to facilitate expertise and build capacity in Qatar and the region.”

Fanar aspires to establish a unique partnership with Arab users through its experimental version, allowing them to provide feedback and recommendations, making them integral to the development of future versions. This collaboration is a critical step toward creating a digital Arab society rooted in innovation and sustainable development.

Five key contributors from national institutions—namely, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs; Qatar National Library, which is based at Qatar Foundation’s Education City; Al Jazeera Channel; the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, and Qatar University—continuously enrich Fanar's database with new information. The project also plans to expand its partner network regionally and globally.

Fanar project aims to strengthen its partner network at both the Arab and regional levels to ensure the Arabic language thrives in the global digital future. This initiative is expected to inspire further innovations in education, media, and technology.

The World Summit AI Qatar 2024 serves as a premier international platform, bringing together experts and decision-makers worldwide to discuss the latest AI developments and applications. Fanar stands out as one of the summit's flagship projects, reaffirming Qatar's commitment to leading the integration of technology with cultural values.