Latest news with #ArabicLanguageCentre
Al Etihad
12-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Accompanied by President of Kazakhstan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi visits Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan School in Astana
12 May 2025 18:48 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has visited the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan School in the Kazakh capital, Astana, accompanied by His Excellency Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of the visit, His Highness and His Excellency the President of Kazakhstan met faculty members, administrative staff and students, and were briefed on the school's role in strengthening educational and cultural ties between the UAE and the Republic of Kazakhstan, praising the staff's efforts in delivering an academic model that reflects excellence and cultural Highness and His Excellency reviewed the school's educational programmes and student projects, emphasising the importance of supporting quality education as a pillar for development and intercultural Highness and His Excellency also visited the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Arabic Language Centre at the school and attended part of an Arabic language Highness commended the centre's vital role in promoting Arabic language learning, highlighting the language's contribution to fostering cultural dialogue and shared Highness also stressed the importance of supporting such initiatives, which embody the humanitarian and civilisational values of the His Highness praised the support extended by the Government of Kazakhstan for both promoting educational excellence and the initiatives of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Arabic Language Centre, stressing the importance of expanding such endeavours to strengthen the status of the Arabic language and equip students with competitive skills aligned with labour market requirements and Highness was accompanied during the visit by His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Court; His Excellency Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Crown Prince's Office at the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court; and His Excellency Mohamed Haji Al Khoury, Director General of the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2016 with funding from the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, the school is a landmark educational project, reflecting the strong ties between the UAE and school spans a total area of 37,000 square metres, with a four-storey building covering 14,313 square metres and a capacity of up to 2,400 students in a two-shift system. The Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan School features 58 academic and vocational classrooms, as well as sports halls, playgrounds, a library, a medical clinic, a conference hall, and a theatre, supported by advanced infrastructure meeting the highest safety and quality standards.
Express Tribune
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Dh 464,550 Ibn-e- Sina manuscript to feature at Abu Dhabi book fair
The rare book to be display at the Abu Dhabi festival. PHOTO: KHALEEJ TIMES Listen to article A rare 14th-century manuscript of Canon of Medicine by Ibn Sina, valued at Dh464,550, will be one of the centrepieces at the 34th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), which opens today at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi and runs until 5 May. The manuscript, brought by renowned London antiquarian book dealer Peter Harrington, marks a major milestone: the 1000th anniversary of Ibn Sina's seminal work, a cornerstone of medieval Islamic and global medical scholarship. This year's edition of the fair welcomes 1,400 exhibitors from 96 countries, offering over 2,000 activities across literature, publishing, creative industries, and cultural dialogue. Organised under the theme Knowledge Illuminates Our Community, the event is hosted by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and held under the patronage of President Sheikh Mohamed. Peter Harrington's carefully curated collection highlights rare works celebrating Middle Eastern history and the early encounters between Islamic and Western traditions. Among the notable items is the first known appearance of Arabic script in an American novel, The Kentuckian in New-York (1834), priced at £7,500 (Dh36,675), and a previously unrecorded 19th-century Arabic-English phrasebook by an Egyptian author, also priced at £7,500. Adding to the allure is a rare first complete Arabic edition of One Thousand and One Nights printed in the Arab world at Cairo's Bulaq Press in 1835, complementing the fair's celebration of the classic as the 'Book of the World'. Other standout artefacts include a visual archive of Saudi Arabia's post-war Hejaz Railway project (1948), with over 200 unpublished photographs priced at £18,500 (Dh90,465), and a series of original watercolours by famed illustrator Edmund Dulac for The Arabian Nights, priced between £35,000 and £80,000 (Dh171,000 to Dh391,000). 'These works carry value beyond their rarity — they speak to identity, memory, and belonging,' said Pom Harrington, owner of Peter Harrington. He noted a growing appetite among Middle Eastern collectors, particularly younger ones, for items that reflect personal histories and cultural heritage. Ben Houston, the dealer's sales director, added: 'We're seeing strong interest in Arabic calligraphy, Islamic philosophy, early scientific texts, and diasporic heritage materials like trade maps and early language guides.' The fair's organisers said this trend mirrors a broader cultural movement across the region, where national identity and heritage preservation are increasingly shaping both institutional and private collections.
Khaleej Times
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Rare book worth over Dh400,000 takes centre stage at Abu Dhabi International Book Fair
A rare 14th-century manuscript of Ibn Sina's Canon of Medicine, valued at Dh464,550, will be among the star attractions at the 34th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), which opens today, April 26, and will run until May 5 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. Brought to the fair by renowned antiquarian book dealer Peter Harrington, the manuscript marks a major milestone: the 1000th anniversary of Ibn Sina's iconic work, a foundation of medieval Islamic and global medical knowledge. This year's edition of the fair will host 1,400 exhibitors from 96 countries and feature over 2,000 activities spanning literature, publishing, creative industries, and cultural dialogue. Returning to Abu Dhabi with a carefully curated selection, Peter Harrington is showcasing rare works that explore Middle Eastern history, heritage, and early encounters between Islamic and Western traditions. Among the highlights is the first known appearance of Arabic script in an American novel, he Kentuckian in New-York (1834), priced at £7,500 (Dh36,675). Another one included in the collection is a rare, previously unrecorded 19th-century Arabic-English phrasebook created by an Egyptian author, also priced at £7,500. The dealer's collection perfectly complements ADIBF's celebration of One Thousand and One Nights as the 'Book of the World'. Peter will also present a rare copy of the first complete Arabic edition of One Thousand and One Nights printed in the Arab world, produced at Cairo's Bulaq Press in 1835. Other standout pieces include a visual archive of Saudi Arabia's post-war Hejaz Railway project (1948), featuring over 200 unpublished photographs (priced at £18,500 (Dh90,465), and a collection of original watercolours by famed illustrator Edmund Dulac for The Arabian Nights (priced between £35,000 and £80,000 (Dh171,000 and Dh391,000), capturing the timeless magic of Arabic folklore. 'These works carry value beyond their rarity — they speak to identity, memory, and belonging,' said Pom Harrington, owner of Peter Harrington. 'We're seeing a growing appetite, especially among collectors in the Middle East and across the diaspora, for items that reflect personal histories and cultural roots.' Another standout item is a facsimile of Al-Istakhri's Book of Climes, reproducing the earliest surviving Arabic maps, a vital artefact from the Islamic Golden Age of cartography. Younger collectors in the Middle East, Harrington noted, are increasingly building libraries that reflect their own identities rather than inheriting traditional collections. 'We see strong interest in Arabic calligraphy, Islamic philosophy, early scientific texts, and diasporic heritage materials like trade maps and early language guides,' added Ben Houston, sales director at Peter Harrington. Under the theme Knowledge Illuminates Our Community, this year's fair was organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and held under the patronage of President Sheikh Mohamed. Organisers said the trend mirrors broader cultural movements across the region where national identity and heritage preservation are influencing institutional and private collections.
The National
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Haruki Murakami wins 2025 Sheikh Zayed Book Award cultural personality prize
Haruki Murakami has been named cultural personality of the year for the 2025 Sheikh Zayed Book Award. The acclaimed Japanese author, renowned for his bestselling novels such as Norwegian Wood and Kafka on the Shore, will receive the honour during a ceremony held as part of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair from April 26 to May 5. The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, which administers the award, praised Murakami for his global literary influence. In a statement, it highlighted the widespread translation of his works into major languages, including Arabic, and commended his role as a cultural bridge between East and West. 'Murakami is one of the most prominent and popular contemporary novelists, with millions of copies of his novels printed every year and translated into numerous languages, including Arabic,' the statement read. 'His literature is characterised by its universality, expressing human concerns that transcend cultural boundaries, with a unique blend of Japanese literature and international influences. His writings are renowned for their ability to explore issues of identity, belonging and individual freedom in a distinctive narrative style that combines realism and fantasy.' Murakami joins other illustrious figures who have received the cultural personality of the year award, including Palestinian poet Salma Khadra Jayyusi and Moroccan philosopher Abdallah Laroui. He is set to receive a gold medal, a Dh1 million cash prize, and a certificate of appreciation. Murakami leads this year's list of Sheikh Zayed Book Award winners, which span both literary and academic fields. Lebanese–French author Hoda Barakat has won the literature category for her novel Hind or the Most Beautiful Woman in the World. Moroccan writer Latifa Labsir's The Phantom of Dabiha will be awarded the children's literature prize, while Italy's Marco Di Branco has won the translation category for Orsious by Paulus Orosius, which he translated from Arabic to Italian. Other figures to be honoured at the ceremony include Emirati academic Mohammed Bechari, whose book The Right to Strive: Perspectives on Muslim Women's Rights won in the Contribution to the Development of Nations category. UK researcher Andrew Peacock will be recognised in the Arab culture in other languages category for his book Arabic Literary Culture in Southeast Asia in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries. All winners, with the exception of the cultural personality of the year, will receive a Dh750,000 cash prize, along with a gold medal and a certificate of appreciation. 'I congratulate the winners of the 19th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award for their outstanding achievements, which have contributed to the enrichment of the Arab and international cultural scene,' said Ali bin Tamim, chairman of the Arabic Language Centre and secretary general of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award. 'Their works were inspiring, tackling new and distinguished topics that delve deep into the human condition and shed light on time and history, which made them stand out to the Award organisers and earn their admiration. 'This year's edition recorded unprecedented competition, reflecting the pioneering and prestigious status of the award, which, over the past year, was able to attract distinguished literary and scientific works that have made valuable contributions to the Arab, regional, and global libraries.'
The National
04-04-2025
- Business
- The National
Tracing the Arabic roots of trending words 'tariffs' and 'ghibli'
Two seemingly unrelated words are making headlines this week: tariffs and ghibli. The first follows sweeping trade legislation announced by US President Donald Trump, while the second is the name of the Japanese studio whose animation style is regaining popularity thanks to a new ChatGPT feature that allows users to transform their photos into Ghibli-style art. Despite their differences in meaning and context, both words share a common thread – their roots in the Arabic language. Let us begin with tariff, a tax governments impose on goods crossing borders. According to Khaled Dalky, head of Arabic language education at the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, it's a word imported into western languages, including English and Spanish, from the Arab world. Spelt phonetically as tarifa, referring to the setting of prices, the word tariff derives from three root letters in Arabic: ayn, ra and fa. 'Arabic is a derivational language, meaning all words go back to root forms,' Dalky tells The National. 'The root letters for tarifa, for example, give rise to a number of interesting words such as ʿarafa (he knew), yaʿrifu (he knows), maʿrifah (knowledge), and ʿirfan (gnosis), among many others.' Another derivative, taʿrif, meaning definition, is responsible for carrying tarifa into the financial and bureaucratic sphere. 'The word's function is to provide clarity and specification,' Dalky explains. 'It's widely used in the Arab world with that purpose, as in taʿrifat al-muwasalat, which means transportation fares.' While Dalky isn't certain exactly how the word made its way into western languages – where tarifa in Spanish and tariffa in Italian both mean 'rate' or 'fee' – he's confident that historical trade and cultural exchange with the Arab world played a key role in carrying the word abroad. 'Languages evolve, and so do the meanings of words. Tarifa began as a form of explanation – like a brief summary of a book – but now it's almost exclusively used to refer to a price list. Perhaps that shift in usage made it universal enough to cross into other languages,' he says. 'This kind of transfer happens often. The Arabic language itself has borrowed some words from Turkish – so this kind of exchange is completely normal and quite frequent.' An example of this linguistic transfer is Studio Ghibli, which co-founder Hayao Miyazaki – a devoted aviation enthusiast – named after the 20th-century Italian aircraft Caproni Ca.309 Ghibli. Pronounced 'gee-blee,' the Italian word refers to a hot desert wind from the Sahara, but it originally derives from the Arabic word ghibleh, commonly used in Libya to mean 'southerly wind'. By extension, the word ghibleh, as used in Arabic across North Africa, can refer not only to the wind coming from the south, but also to people from the south. Muhammad Safi Al-Mutghani, secretary-general of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, says the word evokes the characteristics of nomadic communities, such as the Tuareg of North Africa. 'It is very widely used in Algeria, especially in the Sahara, and refers to nomadic people who do not settle in one place but move through the desert and countryside, following the rainfall,' he says. 'These people are known by the word ghibli, which is still commonly used in the region.' With the Arabic Language Academy completing the publication of the 127-volume Corpus of the Arabic Language last year, Al-Mutghani says he is not surprised by the unexpected ways Arabic has left its mark over the centuries. 'The meanings are rich and elastic in use – that's why the language continues to make its mark in new and interesting ways,' he says. Dalky sums it up best: 'Our teachers used to say the Arabic language is like a string of prayer beads. The beads are the derived words, and the one thread holding them all together is their shared root meaning.'
