In theory, the modern internet era should be a golden age for world literature access. But in practice, many significant works — particularly Arabic-language works — remain unattainable.
A new partnership between Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism and Amazon, however, may be a step in the right direction. Under the agreement, the two entities will launch the world’s largest digital Arabic library, hosting thousands of titles showcasing the richness and beauty of Arabic literature.
“This collaboration represents a milestone in our mission to elevate Arabic literature and champion our national language,” Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said, according to the Siasat Daily. “Leveraging Amazon’s global reach and expertise, the partnership will provide a gateway for readers everywhere to experience the depth and diversity of written Arabic.”
The library will be presented as a dedicated storefront for Arabic eBooks, audiobooks, periodicals, and other cultural works, connecting over 400 million Arabic speakers worldwide to a treasure trove of modern and classic literature.
“Amazon began as a destination for books, and today we unite our stores, Amazon Ads solutions, and AWS cloud services to enable the most comprehensive Digital Arabic Library on Amazon,” said Ronaldo Mouchawar, Vice President, Amazon Middle East, Africa and Turkey. “Together, we’re combining technology and culture to inspire readers and creators across the Arab world, sharing the beauty of Arabic globally.”
An effort of both cultural preservation and digital expansion, the library also aligns with a unified push among Arabic governments to promote Arabic-language education, access and proliferation. It’s as vital an element of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s economic development efforts as their flashier, more expensive investments in artificial intelligence and other digital technologies.
“The Arabic language is a pillar of our culture and identity, carrying centuries of knowledge, creativity, and connection,” Mouchawar said. “By collaborating with the Department of Culture and Tourism, we aim to celebrate and expand access to this rich heritage.”
Abu Dahbi and Amazon officials also hope the digital Arabic library will spur renewed worldwide interest in Arabic literature, an outreach effort they intend to push by utilizing Amazon Ads, Amazon Web Services cloud computing, and publishing guidance from the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre.
By fostering new possible connections between Arabic publishers or authors and a global readership, it could lay the groundwork for additional translation and localization efforts. Arabic literature enthusiasts and scholars have long bemoaned the lack of funding for Arabic literary translation — a dynamic that could change with greater ease of access.
"The opportunity now lies in uplifting the work and voices of translators based in the Middle East, who have less access to the support networks than we do living in the West," editor, author, and translator Nashwa Nasreldin told The National.
"I think, we will see a rise in translations of Arabic literature from the Middle East and North Africa region as more translators are trained and gain confidence in an industry that had been relatively opaque previously," she added