Post by : Bianca
Haleem
The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has officially launched new grants as part of the 2025 Spotlight on Rights programme, aimed at enhancing the international outreach of Arabic literature and fortifying the translation and publishing sectors.
This programme facilitates collaboration between Arab and global publishers by financing translation projects that encompass print, e-books, and audiobooks. It aims to introduce high-quality Arabic and international content to wider audiences while advocating for intellectual property rights.
Since its inception in 2009, this initiative has significantly aided the publishing industry within the cultural development framework of the region. Innovative grants for audiobooks and e-books were added in 2020 to keep pace with global trends. Annually, applications are gathered during the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), emphasizing the centre's role as a global nexus for rights transactions and knowledge exchange.
In the last five years, the Spotlight on Rights has attracted hundreds of publishers worldwide, fostering the translation of both Arabic and international literature, in alignment with the UAE's dedicated efforts towards copyright protection.
The 2025 edition has seen significant growth in international engagement, with first-time participation from publishers in countries like Mexico, Slovakia, Greece, Canada, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Malaysia. This surge in interest underscores the programme's expanding international footprint and its influence on Arabic translations.
His Excellency Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, Executive Director of ALC, shared that this programme exemplifies the centre's dedication to nurturing the publishing and translation landscape while broadening Arabic content into newer markets. He pointed out that the initiative has reinforced rights exchanges, boosted translation efforts, and sustained an innovation-driven publishing atmosphere over the past 17 years.
He added that the increasing presence of international publishers reflects their confidence in the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair as a cultural dialogue hub and highlights the centre's role in facilitating the development of high-quality knowledge content aligned with global standards.
At ADIBF 2025, the programme received a total of 1,633 applications from 113 publishing houses spanning 29 countries. The outcome was 69 grants awarded to 36 Arab and international publishers.
Grant amounts include:
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AED 9,200 to AED 17,400 for printed translated books
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AED 3,700 to AED 7,400 for e-books
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AED 5,500 to AED 7,400 for audiobooks
Since its launch, Spotlight on Rights has facilitated the publication of 1,390 translated works across various genres, including children’s literature, science, history, and social sciences. The programme continues to enhance the global visibility of Arab culture while enriching Arabic libraries with valuable translated content.
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