Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre Grants 50+ Awards in Spotlight on Rights 2024 Program

Photo : Abu Dhabi Media Office

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has recently awarded 53 new grants to 36 Arab and international publishing houses as part of its Spotlight on Rights 2024 program. This initiative, launched to support the translation of literary works to and from Arabic and to convert printed books into digital and audio formats, represents a significant boost to the publishing industry.

The Spotlight on Rights program is designed to enhance cooperation between Arab and global publishers, thereby expanding the availability of Arabic content across various media. The program provides financial support to publishers participating in the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), facilitating the growth and diversification of Arabic literature.

Since its inception in 2009, the program has been instrumental in funding the publication of over 1,324 books in categories ranging from children's literature to science, history, and social sciences, with contributions from more than 190 publishers. This initiative has been pivotal in enriching the Arabic publishing landscape with works translated from numerous international languages.

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His Excellency Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, highlighted the program's commitment to advancing the publishing sector and upholding intellectual property rights. “Through the Spotlight on Rights programme, we aim to support and elevate the publishing industry, reinforcing its role as a crucial cultural foundation. Our goal is to promote respect for intellectual property rights in the Arab world and align with the UAE's leadership in copyright protection.”

Al Tunaiji noted the challenges posed by rapid technological advancements and emphasized the program’s role in adapting to these changes. “The Spotlight on Rights programme is dedicated to fostering a culture of intellectual property exchange, encouraging translation, and enriching Arabic content in the face of evolving technology,” he said.

The program has received 635 applications for e-book and audiobook grants, and 554 applications for translation grants in 13 different languages. To date, 28 books have been translated, and 25 titles have been converted into e-books and audiobooks. Grants for translation range from AED 9,200 to AED 14,700 per book, while e-book production grants range from AED 3,700 to AED 7,400, and audiobook production grants range from AED 5,500 to AED 7,400 per title.