Sharjah Russia Cultural Ties are set to grow through a new agreement focused on Arabic books and literature. The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Russian cultural organisation to expand the reach of Arabic literature in Russia.
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The agreement was signed on September 13 during SBA’s participation in the Moscow International Book Fair. It aims to strengthen cooperation between publishers, authors, translators and cultural institutions in the UAE and Russia.
Translation And Publishing Rights
The new agreement will support direct translation projects between Arabic and Russian. It will also encourage the exchange of publishing rights between publishers in both countries.
The two sides will cooperate on book fairs and literary events. They will also encourage publishers and cultural institutions to participate in events held in the UAE and Russia.
These efforts are expected to help Arabic books reach more Russian readers. They will also give readers in the Arab world greater access to Russian literary and cultural works.
Long-Term Cultural Cooperation
Khoula Al Mujaini, General Coordinator of Fairs and Festivals at SBA, said the agreement would help turn contacts made at book fairs into long-term cooperation.
The partnership will allow both sides to develop programmes involving publishers, translators, authors and rights holders throughout the year.
Sharjah Russia Cultural Ties have already included major cultural engagement. Sharjah became the first Arab Guest of Honour at the Moscow International Book Fair in 2019.
During that programme, Sharjah presented 59 works by prominent Emirati and Arab authors that had been translated into Russian.
Building Bridges Through Books
Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, said books can help bring cultures closer despite differences in language and geography.
He said Arab and Russian cultures have rich literary and intellectual traditions. The new agreement is expected to create more opportunities for cultural dialogue and introduce works from both cultures to new generations.
The agreement also supports greater participation by Russian publishers and institutions at the Sharjah International Book Fair. SBA and Emirati and Arab publishers will also have more opportunities to participate in Russian book fairs and festivals.
The partnership reflects Sharjah’s wider focus on using books and knowledge to build cultural bridges between communities.
