The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has awarded 53 new grants to 36 Arab and international publishing houses as part of the 2024 edition of its "Spotlight on Rights" programme. The initiative supports the translation of content into and from Arabic and the conversion of printed books into digital and audio formats.

Providing financial grants to publishers from around the world who participate in the ALC-organised Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), "Spotlight on Rights" aims to strengthen cooperation among Arab and international publishers to enhance the quality of Arabic content available across various media.

Since its inception in 2009, the grants have contributed to the publication of more than 1,324 books across various categories, including children’s books, science, history, social sciences, and others, by over 190 publishers. The initiative has enriched Arab libraries with works translated from several international languages.

His Excellency Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, Executive Director of the ALC, said: "Through the Spotlight on Rights programme, we are committed to enriching and supporting the publishing industry, elevating its status, and underlining its role as a fundamental cultural pillar. We strive to promote respect for intellectual property rights in the Arab world, in line with the leading role played by the UAE and Abu Dhabi in enacting legislation that protects copyright and ensures that the efforts of authors, publishers, and translators are safeguarded".

"We live in a world that is constantly being transformed by technological advances that are evolving at a rapid pace", HE Al Tunaiji continued. "This presents us with significant challenges, particularly in terms of finding ways to harness these developments to serve and support the publishing industry. With the Spotlight on Rights programme, the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre aims to foster a culture of exchanging intellectual property rights, encouraging translation, and enriching Arabic content".

The "Spotlight on Rights" programme has received a total of 635 grant applications for e-books and audiobooks and 554 translation grant applications in 13 languages. A total of 28 books have been translated through the programme, while 25 titles were converted from print to e-book and audiobook formats.

Grants for translation range from AED 9,200 to AED 14,700 per book. Meanwhile, the grant for e-book production ranges from AED 3,700 to AED 7,400 per book, and the grant for audiobook production ranges from AED 5,500 to AED 7,400 per title.