Page 15 - MBRF PR REPORT - APRIL 2025

Press Release

To enhance the literary and intellectual movement in Arab world

MBRF organizes ‘Arab Reading Clubs Forum 2025’ in

partnership with Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 20 April 2025- The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Foundation for Knowledge (MBRF), in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center

(ALC), held the ‘Arab Reading Clubs Forum 2025’ at the ALC headquarters. The event aims to
nurture a reading culture, enrich literary dialogue, and foster exchanges between the MBRF’s

‘Knowledge Lounge’ and ALC’s ‘Kalima Reading Club,’ along with other local and Arab reading

clubs. Additionally, it serves as an interactive platform to develop participants’ critical and
intellectual analytical skills.

The forum, held in the presence of H.E. Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF; H.E. Dr. Ali bin

Tamim, Chairman of ALC; and Prof. Yasir Suleiman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the
International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF), brings together reading communities both within

and beyond the UAE into a unified knowledge ecosystem while providing a supportive
environment for sharing ideas and visions. This is essential for creating an interactive,

knowledge-based community.

The forum also promotes analytical and creative discussions of contemporary works to enrich

the literary landscape, while establishing sustainable communication networks that enhance
collaboration and the sharing of experiences among literature enthusiasts across the Arab

World.

Organized annually by ALC, the seventh edition of the forum facilitated the analysis and

discussion of the six novels nominated for IPAF 2025. The shortlisted novels are: ‘Danishmand ’
’
by Ahmed Fal Al Din from Mauritania, ‘Valley of Butterflies by Azhar Jargis from Iraq, ‘The
Andalusian Christ ’ by Taysir Khalaf from Syria, ‘The Women's Pact ’ by Haneen Al-Sayegh from