Fact of the Week

09 May 2021

Osama Alaysa, 2015 Literature winner, shares his views on writing during a pandemic: “As soon as it was declared that the coronavirus pandemic has reached Bethlehem, I started focusing on my work in journalism. We started following the cases and we monitored how people reacted to the pandemic. In addition to my work, I keep a journal. I’ve started writing it before coronavirus and continue to write during the pandemic. I also have a pile of books that I needed to start reading.”

02 May 2021

Dr. Jawdat Fakhr Eldine, 2014 Children’s Literature winner, shares his views on Writing during a Pandemic: “I’ve been inspired to write poetry at this stage and I wrote poems that resemble short excerpts. But, what’s new about these is how they were influenced by the general situation the pandemic has imposed. And I think that this experience will have an enduring effect with all writers, even after it’s gone. The worldview of every writer and particularly, every poet, will change with this global experience.”

25 Apr 2021

Marina Warner, 2013 Arab Culture in Other Languages winner, shares her views on Writing during a Pandemic “I have finished my book about my childhood in Cairo and I have been writing quite copiously, probably too copiously, throughout, and reading, and watching films, and even watching plays and operas streamed online. But my heart feels very heavy. The deep social blow that has been struck against the arts and humanities, and education by the effects of this terrible virus.”

18 Apr 2021

Huda Qadoumi, 2008 Children’s Literature winner, shares her views on Writing during a Pandemic: “I see similarities between our lives in these circumstances and the quest of the birds in my winning book (A Journey of Birds to Mount Qaf) to find a solution. At the end of their quest, the solution was not what they had expected it to be. They found out they had to change from within before change has come from a distant place. This pandemic has enforced many changes upon our lives. As a writer of children’s literature, and as an activist in child theatre, I had to change the ways children’s theatre and culture are presented.”

11 Apr 2021

Dr. Mahmoud Zein Al-Abedeen, 2007 Young Author winner, shares his views on Writing during a Pandemic: “To write now about the pandemic is too early, but this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t document the phases that we go through, and the feelings we experience. And it’s certain that there will be a long-lasting effect on creative writing. But, I think it’s too early now to make firm pronouncements about an evolving situation. So, I think we need to document what we’re living in writing, and these writings could be a reference for us in the future.”

04 Apr 2021

Dr. Mohamed Ait Mihoub, 2020 Translation Award winner, shares his views on Writing during a Pandemic: “It was a strange coincidence that I had just started translating the work of Maupassant, which revolves around the concept of solitude. And so, I enjoyed this accidental juxtaposition between the current situation and the work I did. And in all cases, let’s not forget that translation, at its very core, is an attempt to break through solitude, because translation is a journey after all; from language to language, from culture to culture, from thought to thought. And it’s imperative that whatever we work on is the start point to a journey that ends with meeting the other, linguistically and culturally.”

28 Mar 2021

Hussain Al Mutawaa, 2019 Children’s Literature winner, shares his views on Writing during a Pandemic: “For the first time in history, people are told that the best they can do to save humanity is just to stay home. This is a great blessing for writers. The lockdown has enabled me to read more books and to explore areas and disciplines outside my self-determined specialty which is something I’ve always dreamed of doing. The thing I miss most these days are cultural events. But thanks to the Internet, and social media, we managed to find a space to engage in such activities.”

21 Mar 2021

Dr. Abderrezak Belagrouz, 2019 Young Author winner, shares his views on Writing during a Pandemic: “During the lockdown, I’ve read more comprehensively and expanded my readings into new disciplines and topics toward developing my own research which I intend to compile and publish, the most important of which is intensifying my reading, as well as having discovered new areas through research. I’ve explored the philosophical meaning of isolation, the philosophical meaning of being at home. I’ve explored the ways philosophers, thinkers, and researchers can dwell in their solitude as if we’re reading “The Regime of the Solitary” by Ibn Bajja.”

14 Mar 2021

Prof. Dag Nikolaus Hasse, 2018 Arab Culture in Other Languages winner, shares his views on Writing during a Pandemic: “As lovers of books, you may fear for the future of the book. Because, we see the digitalization everywhere. Now I think, on the contrary, this is also the time of the book. I realize I read more books, and also, books are recommended to me much more often, and borrowed and presented. The good news is: viruses can’t eat books. Books create a bond between us. We have a saying in German ‘Die gedanken sind frei - Thoughts are free. This is a slogan from the liberation times back then. Yes, thoughts can be communicated despite everything happening in the material world.”

07 Mar 2021

Dr. Mohamed Mechbal, 2018 Literary and Art Criticism winner, shares his views on Writing during a Pandemic: “I’ve taken advantage of the lock down to give remote lectures to my students and found that, for the first time, I have to start giving audio lectures which I listened to later to find out that I did deliver important material that could be used in a book, and I decided to do just that. I contacted my publisher and told him that I’m considering working on a book based on the materials of my lectures because it’s important.”

28 Feb 2021

Ahmad Al Qarmalawy, 2018 Young Author winner, shares his views on Writing during a Pandemic: “During the lockdown, I was absorbed into reading, and I discovered the blessing of writing and the passion of reading. I didn’t only spend my time reading, but I’ve also written article critiques of Naguib Mahfouz’s literature which were widely well-received. It was, therefore, a good period for productivity, reading, pondering life, and self-discovery as well.”

21 Feb 2021

Khalil Sweileh, 2018 Literature winner, shares his views on Writing during a Pandemic: “I’ve started working on texts about reading, an autobiographical account of my readings, with the title: “The Picnic of the Crow and Pigeon”, which is a recollection of some books that have heavily influenced me since childhood. It’s some kind of literography that runs parallel to my autobiography. Coronavirus will one day be gone but, it has already inflicted damage on bodies and souls which will no doubt manifest itself in future writings somehow.”

14 Feb 2021

Said Al Ghanimi, 2017 Literary and Art Criticism winner, shares his views on Writing during a Pandemic: “What’s positive about corona is that it has afforded us more time, especially for those interested in writing, creative writing, and reading, and staying abreast of ideological movements. It allowed us to spend more time in solitude, and this indeed is an abundance of time that you can use by keeping yourself busy working on projects you’d postponed and this is enumerated among corona’s blessings if it has any.”

07 Feb 2021

Dr. Ziad Bou Akl, 2017 Translation winner, shares his views on Writing during a Pandemic: “During the lockdown, I’ve been researching and translating a book on theology from the fourth century AH that tackles the connection between jurists of Sunnah and Hadith and the era’s debated issues of speech in the Arab and Islamic world, and so, I found everything I needed at digital libraries on the Internet. All the references, articles, and books I needed were available on the Internet. I also continued to give my lectures online just like it is the case everywhere around the world.”

31 Jan 2021

Dr. Keyan Yahya, 2016 Translation winner, shares his views on Writing during a Pandemic: “The book is an exceptionally ideal companion through this journey and this trial for it is a safe and familiar companion that benefits and never harms, gives and never takes. This isolation has enabled me to read what I never had the chance to read, to dedicate my time toward completing work on many writing and translation projects that I long dreamt of completing. So, stay home, read, and create!”

23 Aug 2020

Since receiving the SZBA in Art & Literary Criticism in 2018, Dr. Mohammed Mechbal authored a study on “The Principles of Interpretation in Arabic Rhetoric”, which was published in a special issue on Arabic rhetoric in the Cairo-based Fusool magazine in 2019. Dr. Mechbal is currently working on a book on (Modern Arabic Rhetoric in the Renaissance: A Study of Concepts and Other Issues), which he intends to publish this year.

16 Aug 2020

Since receiving the SZBA in Translation in 2018, Dr. Neji El Ounelli oversaw the translation and revision of the Roland Barthes trilogy (from French to Arabic). He also completed the translation of Peter Sloterdijk’s first volume “Critique of Cynical Reason” from German to Arabic. He is currently working on translating into Arabic Theodor W. Adorno’s “Negative Dialectics”.

09 Aug 2020

Since receiving the SZBA in Children’s Literature in 2017, Kuwaiti writer Lateefa Buti authored a number of children’s books, which deal with present-day issues, including (The Sharp-dressed Thief), (Tick, Tick, Tick The Twins Bashoora & Ghadoora) and (The Princesses). She also created a number of silent wordless stories, including (The Tales of Nael) series and the (Kangaroo & Arnooba) series.

03 Aug 2020

Since receiving the SZBA in Literary & Art Criticism in 2017, Said Al Ghanimi has worked on publishing the Ibn Al-Hajjaj Anthology in four parts; and (Tales of the Seven Viziers) - the Arabic translation of Sindbad-Namah, which became part of One Thousand and One Nights in recent centuries. In addition to writing (The Keys to the Vaults of Narration), a book that offers a taxonomic study of old Arabic narration, analysing the characteristics of all forms of Arabic narration, starting with heroic tales and traditional tales.

26 Jul 2020

Palestinian novelist Osama Alaysa authored a story collection titled Rasool Al-Elah Ela Al Habiba (2017), which is an adventure set in Palestine. The story triggers strong evocations through lines riddled with critical satire, bitterness and discontent, as well as traditional songs, contradictions, mythology and expressions from the local dialect.

19 Jul 2020

Since receiving the SZBA in Development of Nations in 2016, HE. Dr. Jamal Sanad Al Suwaidi authored a number of scientific books, including (The UAE Society in the Twenty-first Century: Issues and Challenges in a Changing World) in 2018; (Sheikh Zayed's Approach in Building the Union) issued by the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research in 2018; (Events That Changed History) in 2018; and (Do not Surrender: The Journey of My Experiences) in 2017.

12 Jul 2020

Palestinian novelist Osama Alaysa published a novel titled (A Bridge Across the Jordan River) in 2018 which is a tale of a soldier, who, during the June 1967 war fails to find an enemy to fight. The novel journeys across diverse landscapes, where history and mythology cross paths.

05 Jul 2020

Two poetry books were translated into English for SZBA winning author Dr. Jawdat Fakhr Eldine, which are (Lighthouse for the Drowning), translated by Dr. Huda Fakhreddine and Dr. Jayson Iwen and published by BOA Editions. The book has won the “Best Book Translated from Arabic” Award in 2017. The second book translated was an anthology of Dr. Fakhr Edline best works, translated by Dr. Huda Fakhreddine and Dr. Jayson Iwen and was published in December 2019 by the University of Texas in Austin.

28 Jun 2020

Kuwaiti children’s literature writer Lateefa Buti rewrote a few old folk tales in a new light by omitting certain aspects that are not suitable for children, while maintaining the plot, main events and spirit. These include: “Ghusoon”; “Al Harami”; “Ana Al-Hamima” and “Ahibbish wo Rabbish”. She also wrote stories for the third season of the popular children’s TV programme, “Iftah Ya Simsim”, about the character named Sloughi the Puppy.

22 Jun 2020

Dr. Rami Abu Shihab published a collection titled (I Am Not Made from Mud) by Arab Institute for Research & Publishing in 2019. In addition to publishing a number of research papers on literary criticism and cultural studies in numerous scientific and cultural journals. He also served as a judge in a number of prestigious literary competitions, most notably Kuwait’s Al Multaqa Prize for the Arabic Short Story 2019, which was sponsored by the American University of the Middle East.

14 Jun 2020

Since receiving SZBA in Literature in 2016, author Ibrahim Abdelmeguid has published several novels, including authoring of three novels: (Last Year’s Cats), (Before I Forget That I Was Here) and (The Cyclopes), and wrote numerous articles, which he featured in a book titled (The Boy Who Loved Rain). Additionally, the translations of three of his novels were published; namely (No One Sleeps in Alexandria) in Spanish, (Every Week Has a Friday) in German and (Clouds Over Alexandria) in English.

07 Jun 2020

Since receiving the SZBA in Literature in 2015, Palestinian author Osama Alaysa has published several novels, including “Wardat Ariha” (The Jericho Flower) in 2017 which explores traditions relating to the Virgin Mary and Khodr Al-Akhdar, and the Palestinian’s relationship with nature and what lies beyond. Set in Southern Jerusalem in the first half of the 20th century, the novel revolves around the murder of a woman, overshadowed by the circumstances of a country, against which even more horrible crimes are being committed by colonial powers that strive to divide it.

31 May 2020

Since receiving the SZBA in Young Author in 2014, Dr. Rami Abu Shihab has published a number of books, most notably his book titled (In the Last Passage: the Narrative of the Palestinian Diaspora, a Post-Colonial Perspective) in 2017; and (Disfigured Perspectives: Approaches to Enlightenment, Knowledge and Language) in 2019, both of which were published through the Arab Institute for Research & Publishing. Both books fall within the context of Dr. Abu Shihab research in post-colonial criticism and cultural studies.

24 May 2020

Since receiving the SZBA in Children’s Literature in 2014, Dr. Jawdat Fakhr Eldine has completed a number of books, including the publication of his 10th poetry collection titled “Hadiqat Asiteen” by Riad El-Rayyes Books, Beirut, 2016 and the publication of (This is Me) by Dar Al Hadaek Group, Beirut, 2017 – the author’s second children’s poetry collection, comprising 14 poems. Dr. Fakhr Eldine also completed a one-poem book titled Najma (Star) published also by Al Hadaek, Beirut, 2019.

17 May 2020

In 2019, the Syrian Novelist Khalil Sweileh published a novel titled (The Snail’s Solitude) by Naufal Publishing, Beirut, which was the result of an entire year of writing and tireless research into sources on heritage, with the purpose of writing history, both recorded and oral, from an opposing position. The novel explores imaginary identities over a background of past and current events, captured by an editor who works at a historical publishing house, who brings back the legacies of Al Jahiz, Ibn Rush and Ibn Al Muqaffa into the world of today.

10 May 2020

Since receiving SZBA in Literature in 2014, Dr. Abdel Rasheed Mahmoudi has published a number of books, including the publication of (Taha Hussein: The French Manuscripts of Taha Hussein) by the National Center for Translation, Cairo, 2016, (Philosophers of Andalusia: The Age of Tribulation, Exile and Atonement) by Al Dar Al Masriah Al Lubnaniah, Cairo, 2018 and a poetry book titled (Diaries of an Infatuated Man) by the Supreme Council of Culture, Cairo, 2019.

08 Mar 2020

Renowned Lebanese-born, French novelist and SZBA Cultural Personality of the Year in 2016, Amin Maalouf, has been awarded the National Order of Merit by the French government. Established in 1963, this honour rewards distinguished merit and those who represent the civic spirit of France.

15 Sep 2019

In 2013, supported by a grant from NYUAD & in collaboration with NYU Press, Prof. Philip Kennedy helped to create the Library of Arabic Literature - a series of modern English-language translations of Arabic texts. According to Prof. Kennedy: “The Library encourages scholars to produce authoritative Arabic editions, accompanied by modern, lucid English translations, with the ultimate goal of introducing Arabic’s rich literary heritage to a wider public.”

08 Sep 2019

Emirati writer and Sheikh Zayed Book Award Scientific Committee member, Sultan Al Umaimi released his new book entitled (The Arabian Gulf Coast Accents in Arabic Lexcicons) which sheds light on the UAE’s accent as an example. He released the book during Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2019 edition.

01 Sep 2019

Sheikh Zayed Book Award Scientific Committee member and author and translator Samer Abu Hawash, was selected as one of the best 39 Arab Writers under the age of 39, by Hay Festival, London in 2009.

25 Aug 2019

Sheikh Zayed Book Award Scientific Committee member and renowned Moroccan Poet Dr. Mohammed Bennis, received the Arab Creativity Award in 2018 presented by the Lebanese Cultural Forum in Paris in recognition of his valuable literary works.

18 Aug 2019

Sheikh Zayed Book Award Scientific Committee member, Dr. Khalil Al Sheikh, has translated from German into Arabic many critical studies, creative works and adolescent literature, including: Herta Müllers’ noble prize- winning novel “Even Back Then, the Fox Was the Hunter” and the acclaimed Ingo Schultz novel “Adam and Evelyn.”

11 Aug 2019

In 2017, Prof. Suzanne Stetkevych, winner of SZBA Cultural Personality of the Year, was the recipient of the ‘Middle East Medievalists Lifetime Achievement Award’ for her remarkable contribution to the field of medieval Middle Eastern Studies.

04 Aug 2019

Prof. Jaroslav Stetkevych, winner of SZBA Cultural Personality of the Year, is considered the Father of Chicago’s University School of Arabic Language & Literature, which enjoys a wide network of students and researchers from across the world and has had a significant impact on the orientalist climate in the US and Europe and has contributed immensely in shedding light on the Arab civilization and its rich cultural heritage.

28 Jul 2019

Winner of SZBA Cultural Personality of the Year Prof. Jaroslav Stetkevych, is an eminent Arabist who has spent over 30 years in rooting the Arabic culture by researching, teaching, authoring and translating work on Arabic literature and poetry using contemporary analytical methods unique to the traditional orientalist methods popular in his era. In 1958, his dissertation at the University of Madrid was the first of its kind critical work on modern Arabic literature in Spain.

21 Jul 2019

As announced by Peking University, “Prof. Zhong Jikun from Department of Arabic, School of Foreign Languages, received ‘Chinese Translation Culture Lifetime Achievement Award’ in 2018, which is the highest honoring for Chinese translators for his great contribution to the spread of Arab culture in China.”

14 Jul 2019

In 2018, Sheikh Zayed Book Award launched its Translation Fund Initiative aimed at encouraging translations from Arabic into other languages, including French, English, and German in order to increase the readership of Arabic literature internationally.

30 Jun 2019

SZBA Young Author winner Ahmad Al Qarmalawy released a new novel entitled (The Last Call for Passengers) published by Dar Al Masriah Al Lubnaniyya which has won Cairo’s International Book Fair Award for ‘Best Novel’ in 2019. Al Qarmalawy is currently working on a collection of short stories consisting of 20 stories on varied experiences.

23 Jun 2019

Prof. Philip Kennedy, a British academic and researcher specializing in Middle Eastern and Islamic studies, is currently working on his new book called “Islamic Projections" which is a study of narrative knowledge focusing on the Medieval Period.

15 May 2019

Chinese orientalist Prof. Xhong Jikun authored the ‘History of Arabic Literature’ encyclopedia, which comprises 1140 pages in two volumes. Prof. Jikun generously contributed for more than 50 years in rooting the Arabic language in the Far East, by teaching, translating and researching the Arab region culture and literature.

20 Dec 2018

Among Amin Maalouf’s renowned works are four international opera librettos. The first libretto he wrote was for an opera by the Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho entitled “L'Amour de Loin”- (Love From Afar) which was commissioned by the Salzburg Festival and Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris.

13 Nov 2018

Spanish Arabist Prof. Pedro Montavez, is a prominent scholar, translator and author of over 20 books in the field of Arabic language & literature, history of Andalusia & translation. He translated the works of many legendary Arabic poets such as Mahmoud Darwish and Jibran Khalil Jibran.

08 Nov 2018

Brill was awarded the “Sheikh Zayed Book Award” for publishing excellence in Middle East and Islamic Studies in 2012. The monetary prize received by Brill was used to establish a fellowship for students and scholars, and to invest in future innovative publishing projects to further Brill’s contribution to the research and study of literature, culture, history and social science in Middle East and Islamic Studies.

06 Nov 2018

In 1968, Spanish arabist Prof. Pedro Martinez Montavez translated, for the first time into a European language, an almost complete version of Adonis’s Mihyar. In 1974, he published the first comprehensive history of modern Arabic literature, a publication which became a standard course book at Spanish universities.

22 Oct 2018

Chinese orientalist Prof. Xhong Jikun translated Mu‘allaqat -a group of seven long Arabic poems and a selection of 400 poems for 130 ancient poets. He also translated an array of contemporary Arabic literature works for iconic poets from 18 different Arab countries, including Ahmed Shawqi, Badr Shaker Al Sayyab and Abdulwahab Al Bayati.

15 Oct 2018

The Korean Paju Book City is home to 250 publishers with over 10,000 workers. It covers the entire process of publishing from planning to printing and distribution. Books in Paju Book City outnumber people by a ratio of 20-to-1.

08 Oct 2018

The Korean Paju Book City, founded in 1989, has its own booksori, or festival every year, which sees approximately 450,000 visitors over nine days and around 200 author events.

01 Oct 2018

UNESCO’s most famous role is protecting historical sites around the world. It has 1,073 world heritage sites located in 167 countries. UAE’s UNESCO sites include Al Ain’s six oases and the archaeological sites of Al Hili, Hafeet, and Bida bin Saud.

24 Sep 2018

UNESCO’s designation ‘City of Literature’ recognizes excellence and encourages cities to nurture and support their arts & culture platform and collaborate to ensure literature local and international reach. Among the Arab cities that obtained this title is Bagdad, Iraq in December 2015.

04 Sep 2018

Amin Maalouf is the first Lebanese to join the elite ranks of the French Academy, which is the leading authority on the French language since 1635. The French Academy includes 40 members who are elected and hold office for life – they are informally known as “immortals.” The academicians play an active role in representing and protecting the French language. The election came as a true recognition of Maalouf’s distinguished track record in literature.

27 Aug 2018

Amin Maalouf’s second novel, Samarkand (1988) - with Leo the African, is often praised as his best - recreated the life of Omar Khayyam and his Rubaiyat in 11th-century Persia.

21 Aug 2018

Mythologist and cultural historian Marina Warner is the first female President of the Royal Society of Literature which was founded by George IV in 1820, to celebrate and promote British literature.

14 Aug 2018

Mythologist and cultural historian Marina Warner is writing a new novel entitled ‘Inventory of a Life Mislaid’ inspired by her childhood in Cairo, Egypt in the 1950s.

07 Aug 2018

Mythologist and cultural historian Marina Warner is involved in a project entitled ‘Stories in Transit’, seeking to encourage creative activities in refugee communities, and promoting tolerance and understanding by exchanging stories about the different traditions, languages and experiences of displaced people.

30 Jul 2018

Late Denys Johnson-Davies was the first English language translator to translate the work of Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz, and works of many renowned Arab authors, including Tewfiq al-Hakim and Taha Hussein. Edward Said once called him “the leading Arabic-English translator of our times.”

23 Jul 2018

Late Denys Johnson-Davies was born in Canada, and lived in Sudan, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon and the Gulf, and served as a businessman, lawyer, a broadcaster and a diplomat.

15 Jul 2018

Late Denys Johnson-Davies had more than twenty-five volumes of translated Arabic novels, short stories, plays, and poetry to his name, and a career spanning over sixty years. He was also interested in Islamic studies and co-translated three volumes of Prophetic Hadith.

08 Jul 2018

Late Tharwat Okasha, who is referred to as the founder of Egypt’s cultural institutions, was a former member of UNESCO’s Executive Board, and received the Organization’s golden and silver medals for his contribution to the safeguard of Abu Simbel and the Nubian Monuments.

01 Jul 2018

Late Tharwat Okasha, former Egyptian culture minister was behind the establishment of The Cairo Opera Ballet Company in 1966. At the time of its founding, it was the only Arab classical ballet institution in the Middle East.