A local start-up is turning Arabic books into audio editions, seeking to create the Arab world’s first digital audio library.

Established only three months ago, Masmoo3 has already secured business deals with several local value-added service companies which will introduce its audio content locally and in the region through mobile operators and related websites.

An Egyptian cartoonist who was arrested and had his graphic novel banned under Hosni Mubarak’s regime is to be published in English. Magdy El Shafee wrote the graphic novel “Metro” in 2008. It was banned in his home country and El Shafee was convicted of offending public decency after a lengthy trial.

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.

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.

By the year 2002, two key studies linking Arab human development to the book industry had been published: The UNESCO report on Arab book production and the Arab Human Development Report, ADHR.

Najwa Barakat’s Workshop ‘how to write a novel’, first of its kind in the Arab world, is being regularly covered by the press. This time, the workshop makes it as a headline on the main francophone Lebanese daily’s first page. No doubt, Barakat’s workshop is not going unnoticed. Barakat’s explicit aim is to discover young talents, help them find their own voice, and accompany them until their work is published. To some extent, Barakat is acting like a free-lance editor – with a pedagogical twist.
In a part of the world …