The SAIMA

Supporting the AWI

The Society of Friends of the AWI (SAIMA) is an ‘association loi 1901’ (a non-profit association), created in 1993.

The Society brings together all those who wish to support the AWI in its objective to disseminate greater knowledge about the Arab world and its language and civilisation.

Contributing to the development of the AWI’s activities

The goal of the Society of Friends of The Arab World Institute is to promote the development of the AWI’s activities and the development of its collections.

Extending the AWI’s influence 

The members of the SAIMA are the ambassadors of the institution. They contribute to promoting the AWI and its objectives to their circles. The partnerships established by the Society of Friends with various cultural institutions help promote the AWI’s activities outside the Institute.

The SAIMA’s Board of Directors 

Nine administrators elected for a three-year period by the Ordinary General Meeting
Two ex officio administrators are appointed: the President of the AWI and the General Secretary of the AWI

Membership of the SAIMA

Contribute to intercultural dialogue 

Like The Arab World Institute, the Friends of the AWI (SAIMA) enables its members to discover the Arab world in its entirety and in all its complexity.
The Society of Friends advocates the values of openness, tolerance, and international cooperation.

A special relation with the AWI

Being a member of the SAIMA means becoming actively involved with the life of The Arab World Institute.
Members also enjoy exclusive benefits and advantages, and participate in the various events organised by the AWI (inaugurations, previews, seminars, etc.).

Join a network

The Friends of the AWI is a network of experts and lovers of the Arab world.
Our many activities provide opportunities for our members to meet, create links, and interchange with others who are equally passionate about this region of the world, and its culture, language, and economy.

Enjoy many cultural activities and events 

Every quarter, the Friends of the AWI arranges a rich programme of activities for its members to enjoy. 

Enjoy many exclusive benefits  

For full members:

• Free admission and rapid entry to the Museum and exhibitions  
• Invitations to inaugurations, previews, and avant-premières
• Reductions in the bookshop and for music and dance performances
• Reductions in the Noura restaurant areas in the AWI
• Receive Infomag (the AWI’s quarterly programme) and exclusive information
• Participate in all the activities reserved for members, organised with museums and partner cultural institutions in Île-de-France, other French regions, and abroad.  

For benefactor members and donator members

In addition to the advantages enjoyed by full members, benefactor members and donator members benefit from:

• Private tours of the AWI’s exhibitions and collections
• One exhibition catalogue per year

Download the membership application form (678.26 KB)