Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation Book Wins Rashid bin Humaid Award for Culture and Science

Dubai - March 25, 2010: The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation has announced that the Arabic version of Out Stealing Horses, a novel translated and published under its ‘Tarjem’ programme, has won the Rashid bin Humaid Award for Culture and Science in the translation category. The award was received at the Science Day celebrations in Ajman, held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al-Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman.

Originally written by Norwegian novelist Per Petterson, the award winning book was published by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation in collaboration with the Swedish Dar Al Muna Publishing House. The novel was translated into Arabic by Lebanese translator, Sakinah Ibrahim.

In this quiet but compelling novel, Trond Sander, a widower nearing seventy is seeking the life of quiet contemplation. His recollections centre on a single afternoon, when he and Jon set out to take some horses from a nearby farm; an adventure that ended abruptly and traumatically in an act of unexpected cruelty.

Ali Al Shaali, Director of Knowledge Production at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation said: “We are delighted to have received such a prestigious award as the Rashid bin Humaid Award. The award our book has received is a testament to the fact that the Foundation’s effort in translation is being well received and we look forward to working with more Arab publishers to enrich the Arab library with more literary works.”

Launched in 2008, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation’s ‘Tarjem’ translation programme aims to enrich the Arab culture with knowledge from other sources, inspire cultural dialogue with the outside world through translation, open up new doors to sources of knowledge, provide translated works that comply with the highest standards, and create a new generation of proficient translators. In addition to publishing the translated books, the Foundation commits to purchasing 1500 copies of every translated title in order to support knowledge production in the Arab World. 

In addition to the ‘Tarjem’ programme, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation has launched many programmes, including “Oktub’ programme, which aims at developing future leaders and creating a knowledge-based society by recognising, promoting and reinstating the role of culture, heritage and cross-cultural understanding in the region.

The Rashid bin Humaid Award for Culture and Science was established in 1984 to encourage research and fair competition among intellectuals. Since its launch, the Award has been supervised by the Umm Al Moumineen Association in Ajman.