Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation launches 'Tarjem' to inspire translation work in Arab world

Inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, 'Tarjem', which means 'translate', will facilitate the translation of 365 bestselling books into Arabic this year alone. The programme seeks to double translation work throughout the Arab world, targeting a total of more than 1,000 books in three years.

The scope of the programme will include various genres. With effective management considered an essential prerequisite to development in the Arab world, nearly 50 per cent of the translated books will deal with management related topics. While 25 per cent of the programme will be allocated to literary books, the remaining will cover miscellaneous titles such as human sciences, history, and philosophy.

Yasser Hareb, Vice President for Culture, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, said: "Tarjem is an ambitious programme aimed at enhancing knowledge transfer to the region. It re-establishes the role of translation as an important tool in facilitating inter-cultural dialogue, while seeking to educate and inform the rest of the world about the Arab region's modern and classical thought processes.

"Hareb added :"Driven by the region's development requirements, Tarjem will mobilise resources and encourage new talent to enhance the Arab intellectual capital. The Tarjem programme will bridge cultural gaps, especially with countries that are not easily accessible to Arab readers such as the Scandinavian or Far-Eastern cultures.

"Even though translating Arabic intellectual works into other languages is important, it is also seamlessly essential for other works to be translated into Arabic to accelerate knowledge transfer," he pointed out.

A panel of distinguished Arab intellectuals, prominent writers and thinkers will review applications posted online and will come up with recommendations on the best titles to be included in the programme. Guided by key criteria set by the Foundation, initial nominations will be made by its partner publishing houses.

Hareb said: "Translation from English will be essential as most of the management development books are in that language. Yet, we are also keen to encourage translation from and to other languages as well."

Launched with an endowment of Dhs37bn ($10bn), the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation aims to develop future leaders and create a knowledge-based society in the region through four key components of knowledge and education, culture, entrepreneurship and philanthropy. The Foundation has launched several programmes to encourage Arab intellectual output including 'Oktob', an author grants programme aimed at motivating aspiring young Arab writers.