Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation Finishes Translating First Set of German Books into Arabic 

Foundation’s efforts to enhance Arab-European cultural cooperation 

Dubai - March 17, 2010: The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation announced today that it has finished translating the first set of selected German books into Arabic, in cooperation with West-East Diwan Cultural Association, a Berlin based non-profit organization promoting bilateral cooperation between the East and the West in culture and knowledge dissemination. 

This announcement comes as a follow up to the Arab-German Literary Forum that the Foundation organized in Dubai in November 2008. The Forum aimed at exploring innovative avenues for enhancing Arab-Western cultural dialogue.

During his visit to Berlin in February 2008, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai met an elite group of Germany’s leading cultural figures and urged Arab and German intellects to pave the way for wider dialogue between the West and the Arab World.

Ali Al Shaali, Director of Knowledge Production at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation said: “This initiative comes in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to establish close cultural ties with Germany. In this regard, the Foundation has joined hands with East-West Diwan Cultural Association to supervise the translation work.

“The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation sees translation as an effective tool in shaping civilizations. Accordingly, it has adopted a long-term plan to translate selected Arabic books into German and vice versa.” Al Shaali added. 

The first set of translated books includes a wide variety of genres including fiction novels, history, philosophy, and other subjects that relate to the way German intellectuals view Arabs and the Muslim World. Some of the titles include “Alexandria. Fata Morgana” by Joachim Sartorius, “The Devil of Numbers” by Hans Magnus Enzensberger and “The Executor” by Michael Krüger.