Berlin: The Arab Cultural House -Al Diwan, of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Germany, announced the opening of its third annual Arabic Book Fair on Oct. 24, 2025, in Berlin.
The three-day event is expected to feature participation from as many as 100 Arab and foreign publishing houses.
The House has been keen to select publishers and books showcased by Al Diwan to give visitors a glimpse of the literary diversity the Arab library promotes, vowing to present the best and latest genres that serve Al Diwan's mission in forging bridges of communication and fostering East-to-West dialogue.
The initiative is dedicated to offering avenues for familiarization with Arab culture and rectifying flawed perceptions the West may hold about the Arab and Islamic world.
The showcased books, whether from Arab or foreign publishing houses, underscore the interest of both writers and readers in reviewing and understanding the culture of the other.
This reflects the capability of Arab writers and intellectuals to produce critical and constructive works that inspire Western writers and academics to engage with them, providing opportunities to correct previously misinformed ideas about Arab and Muslim cultures.
Qatar News Agency reached out to Director General of the Arab Cultural House, Lawrence Al Hanawi, who pointed out that the fair will be followed by a range of cultural programs, including panel discussions highlighting the role of writers' fairs in cultural exchange among nations.
This alongside the challenges facing translation between Arabic and German, foremost among them the limitations of machine translation in conveying ideas rather than literal meaning, Al Hanawi added.
The Qatari novel model will be featured within panel discussions that delve into the contemporary Arabic novel in the Gulf region, with the participation of Dr. Noura Al Khaja, Professor of Arabic Literature and Criticism at Qatar University, Al Hanawi highlighted.
Al Hanawi added that Dr. Al Khaja will engage in a discussion with Dr. Claudia Ott, the orientalist and translator.
As per the agenda, the fair will feature a panel discussion on Classical and Nabati poetry, with participation from Poet Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, Dr. Sarjon Karam, poet and professor at the Institute of East Asian Studies, University of Bonn, and orientalist and translator Stefan Weidner.
Notably, the State of Qatar established the House in November 2017, and since then it has broadened its efforts with the intent of forging bridges of communication and dialogue between East and West.
The implementation of this objective involves multiple steps and pathways, including activities that spotlight Arabic culture for audiences in Germany, in terms of the showcased arts and language, in addition to operationalizing Arab cultural products to position them as solid bridges connecting peoples.
The Kolln Palace-based Al Diwan is built in a classical style in the Zehlendorf district of Berlin. The palace and its components, including gardens and auxiliary buildings, offer an appropriate venue for cultural gatherings and the dissemination of knowledge.
It enables dialogue and exchange through diverse and continuous events that reinforce the bridges of communication between cultures. (QNA)
