Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation to Translate 50 Selected Arabic Books into Foreign Languages

Frankfurt-Germany: 16 October, 2008 - The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation today announced it will translate 50 selected books by leading Arab intellects and writers into several foreign languages, starting with the German language.

Books to be translated will include Al Sultan al-Ha’er (The Perplexed Sultan) by renowned Egyptian writer Tawfiq al-Hakeem, The Mural of Mahmoud Darwish by famous Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, and Morals of the Muslim by leading Islamic thinker Muhammed Al-Ghazali. 

The announcement was made during a round-table discussion hosted by the Foundation on the first day of its debut participation at the Frankfurt Book Fair, which opened yesterday.

Yasser Hareb, Acting CEO, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation said: “We are determined to reinstate the role of translation as an effective tool to facilitate knowledge transfer to and from the Arab world. Translation is a key bridge that will help us reach out to other cultures and delve into their values. We hope our efforts will also enable other cultures to know more about the Arab world and appreciate its rich classical and contemporary intellectual wealth.”

German author Michael Krüger, author and critic Kheiry Mansur and Amal Jabouri, Chairperson of West-East Diwan Cultural Association, joined Yasser Hareb as participants of the round-table discussion that focused on the translation industry in the Arab world in general and the Foundation’s efforts to promote the industry in particular.

Attended by key regional and international publishers, media and the general public, the discussion highlighted the role of the Foundation’s Tarjem programme in ensuring abundance of quality translations from and into Arabic, facilitating cultural interactions between the East and West.

Yasser Hareb added: “The Foundation is very keen to initiate and promote cooperation and interaction between Arab intellectuals and their global peers. We are confident our efforts will yield tangible results and lead to new collaborative avenues for enhancing cultural ties between the Arab region and other parts of the world.”

Author Michael Krüger said: “I have participated in the Frankfurt Book Fair for the past 40 years. Since then, I have not been able to get in touch with any Arab publisher. I am very grateful to the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation that has granted me the opportunity to sit here with my first ever Arabic translated book.”

A critic, translator and publisher, Krüger praised the vision and mission of the Foundation, commending its ambitious cultural programmes. He  underlined the importance of the Tarjem programme in promoting enhanced cultural understanding, while seeking to educate and inform the rest of the world about the Arab region’s modern and classical intellectual output.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation also hosted prominent German author Martin Walser and Arabic writer Samir Grees who has translated Walser’s latest novel Ein Liebender Mann  (A Lover Man) into Arabic. The event came as part of the Foundation’s celebration of international authors and publishers who have shown vision in spotlighting the diversity of Arabic literature.

A distinguished German novelist and recipient of several prestigious literary awards including the Bücher award, Walser hailed the Foundation’s efforts and said: “I am glad to see a dedicated Arab organisation pursuing such remarkable programmes aimed at nurturing stronger cultural exchange between the Arabs and the rest of the world. I am privileged to partner with this pioneering Foundation and look forward to more collaborative opportunities in the near future.”

As part of its presence in the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Foundation will celebrate the first edition of the Arabic translation of three of German author Adolf Muschg’s books at a workshop to be hosted tomorrow (17 October). During the event, Muschg will share his perspectives on the importance of translation as a vital tool for enhancing global understanding.