The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has launched the Arabic edition of the book ‘Shanghai: Six Thousand Years – A Journey of an Inclusive Civilisation’. Published under the Kalima Project for Translation, the book was unveiled during the ALC’s participation in the 32nd edition of the Beijing International Book Fair, where the UAE is participating as Guest of Honour.
The launch took place during a cultural session attended by His Excellency Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, Executive Director of the ALC and Director of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF); Chen Aiwang, Chief Executive Officer at Oriental Book Centre Publishing House; Liu Peiying, Deputy Editor-in-Chief at Oriental Book Centre Publishing House; and Tao Beng Zhou Yun, President of China Today magazine (Middle East). Numerous other notable officials and cultural figures from both countries were also in attendance.
The session highlighted the significance of the book, which was co-authored by 20 leading Chinese writers, researchers, historians, sociologists, economists, anthropologists, and experts in culture and art. It was translated into Arabic by Dr Ahmad Elsaid, Founder and CEO of Bayt Alhekma Cultural Group.
The book marks a profound intellectual achievement that chronicles the civilisational journey of the city of Shanghai over 6,000 years, offering a comprehensive presentation that blends historical depth with contemporary vision. The authors trace the city’s trajectory from the moment the North and South converged in Chinese civilisation, right through to its opening up to the world and transformation into a global hub for international cultural and economic exchange.
“The book is an earnest attempt to listen to the city’s memory, reading it with the eye of a scholar, not a tourist,” H.E Al Tunaiji said, noting that across its three parts and seven chapters, the book features a robust narrative text that provides readers with a wealth of knowledge.
Commenting on the ALC’s decision to translate the book, His Excellency added: “With this intellectual endeavour, Arab readers will encounter a panorama that speaks not merely of a city, but of an entire civilisation. In publishing this translation, the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre seeks to build a bridge between two ancient civilisations, highlighting the role that the Arabs played during their golden ages, when institutions such as the Bayt al-Hikma translated the sciences of other nations and added to them.”
“Launching the Arabic edition of this book goes beyond mere translation,” H.E. Al Tunaiji affirmed. “It is an introduction to an ancient city that embraces the world with a heart big enough to hold a hundred rivers.”
Using a broad and multidisciplinary approach, the book reveals the roots that enabled Shanghai to assume a prominent international position in finance, trade, shipping, and scientific and technological innovation. It offers a collective intellectual panorama, featuring valuable contributions from writers and researchers from different generations and specialisations, telling the reader the story of a constantly evolving city that embraces the world and strides confidently toward the future.
‘Shanghai: Six Thousand Years – A Journey of an Inclusive Civilisation’ is the latest addition to the series of publications issued by the Kalima Project for Translation, a pioneering initiative in the region that has translated over 1,400 books from 24 languages across 10 fields of knowledge.
The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre is participating in the Beijing International Book Fair 2026 with a comprehensive cultural programme under a unified government umbrella that brings together more than 20 Emirati entities and 100 publishing houses. The UAE pavilion – named the ‘Emirati House’ – stands as the largest and most prominently located space at the fair, which runs until 21 June 2026 at the China National Convention Centre in Beijing.
