On International Translation Day, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), in collaboration with the Emirates Literature Foundation, will celebrate the transformative power of literature to bring worlds together. At the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2026, two landmark initiatives will highlight the importance of translation, underscoring its role in connecting readers across languages and cultures.
As part of this collaboration, Dubai Culture will support the Festival’s Translation Strand, a dedicated programme focused on how translation makes literature accessible to all. With a particular emphasis on the exchange between Arabic and other languages, especially English, the initiative will feature distinguished voices, including Egyptian translator Dai Rahmy, Korean sociologist and award-winning translatorDr Karima Kim, and Emirati children’s books translatorNoura Al Khoori. Through a series of conversations, panels, and workshops, they will share their insights on the art and impact of translation. Acclaimed authors such as Hoda Barakat, Saud Al Sanousi, Dr Shahla Ujayli, and Soukaina Habibullah, whose works have been widely translated, will also take part.
Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, CEO of the Arts, Design, and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, said: “Translation is a powerful act of human connection, opening doors for stories to travel freely and for communities to share knowledge and deepen mutual understanding. By supporting these initiatives in partnership with the Emirates Literature Foundation, Dubai Culture reaffirms its commitment to fostering dialogue between Arabic and world literature, and strengthening Dubai’s position as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent.”
Furthermore, the Festival will mark the 20th anniversary of The Saif Ghobash-Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation. Administered by the Society of Authors in the UK, it is awarded annually to a translator for the published English translation of a full-length literary work in Arabic. The Prize is generously supported byLioudmila Ghobash, Saeed Saif Ghobash, and Maysoune Saif Ghobash, in memory of HE the late Saif Ghobash. Over decades, it has introduced English-speaking readers to Arab literary luminaries, such as Iman Mersal, Najwa Barakat, Reem Bassiouney, Ibrahim Al-Koni, Iman Humaydan, and Mahmoud Darwish. The anniversary celebration will be an exclusive, invite-only event, bringing together many past winners and nominees to honour 20 years of excellence.
Maysoune Ghobash, Emirati entrepreneur, philanthropist and one of the sponsors of the Saif GhobashBanipalPize for Arabic Literary Translation said: “The Saif GhobashBanipal Prize strengthens intercultural understanding and allows readers to encounter the richness and humanity of Arabic literature in English.”
Ahlam Bolooki, CEO of the Emirates Literature Foundation, Director of the Emirates Airline Fesitval of Literature and Managing Director of the Emirates Literature Foundation said: “Translation is at the very heart of our festival this year. It is the bridge that carries Arabic literature to the wider world, while also drawing us closer to the great masterpieces of global literature.
We believe that every Arabic story carries a deeply human meaning that speaks across borders, and it is our duty to give these stories new languages and wider horizons. Translation is, at its core, an act of love and openness, and cultural dialogue flourishes when diverse voices meet and experiences intertwine.
By shining a spotlight on the art of translation at the festival, we are reaffirming our mission to make literature a powerful force for human connection, and to strengthen the presence of the Arabic word on the international stage.”
The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is one of the top ten literary festivals in the world. The 2026 edition will take place in Dubai, UAE, from January 21-27, welcoming authors, illustrators, poets, performers, publishers, and, of course, translators from around the globe.
