Starting March 2011, RAYA agency is proud to announce that it represents the UAE based children literature publishing house Kalimat for world translation rights.

Abu Dhabi’s international book fair opens its doors today.
The 21st edition of the fair features a cultural focus on France and a market focus on Korea.

On Sunday evening, a crowd of about one hundred expatriates, foreign journalists and Anglophone Egyptians congregated between the bookshelves of the AUC Press Bookstore overlooking Tahrir Square to congratulate internationally acclaimed novelist and writer Alaa al-Aswany on the launch of his latest book, “On the State of Egypt: A Novelist’s Provocative Reflections.” The book is a selection of al-Aswany’s weekly columns published in translation and is accompanied by an introductory leaflet entitled “On Tahrir Square, February 2011.”

Is it that there is more literary activities in the Arab world, or is it that they’re gaining visibility? For us readers and book professionals, it’s all good news!
The Sudanese Cultural Center Abdel Karim Mirghani has recently advertised the third edition of the Tayeb Saleh creative writing competition.

The IPAF, or Arab Booker prize’s shortlist was announced earlier today in Doha, Arab Capital of Culture of 2010. The winner will be announced on March 14th, 2011 in Abu Dhabi.

Beirut book fair’s opening is scheduled for this evening, as officials make speeches and honor its alleys.