New Arabic monthly to publish book reviews

Dubai: The Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation yesterday announced a partnership with Cairo-based magazine Wojhat Nazar to produce a specialised monthly publication in Arabic, featuring reviews of books published in various languages worldwide.

The first issue will appear in three months. The agreement was signed by Mohammad Al Gergawi, Chairman of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, and Ayman Al Sayyad, editor-in-chief of Wojhat Nazar.

The new publication is the second project to be implemented among a series of strategic initiatives announced by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the Knowledge Conference in Dubai late last month.

Al Gergawi said: "Through this partnership, we seek to create an endeavour that brings the international literary community together and effectively bridges the knowledge gap.

Advisory board

This publication will also provide Arab readers with access to latest works in the publishing world, raise their awareness on global literary standards and serve as a window to the world's diverse cultures and way of life."

The Foundation will appoint an advisory board including prominent Arab intellectuals, an editor-in-chief and an editorial committee to oversee the production of the magazine. The committee will meet alternatively in Cairo and Dubai.

The new publication has been granted copyright permission to produce and distribute any material published in Wojhat Nazar. It will also invite Arab publishers to share their latest publications with the new magazine, which will reserve the right to publish and translate selected extracts from these works.

Earlier this month, the Foundation announced a partnership with the United Nations Development Programme to promote creative knowledge generation.