Berlin: The Arab Cultural House – Al Diwan, part of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Germany, has announced the commencement of its third annual Arabic Book Fair on October 24, 2025, in Berlin. The three-day event aims to host participation from up to 100 Arab and foreign publishing houses.
According to Qatar News Agency, the House has meticulously selected publishers and books to be showcased, aiming to offer visitors an insight into the literary diversity promoted by the Arab library. Al Diwan is committed to presenting the best and latest genres that support its mission of building bridges of communication and fostering dialogue between East and West. This initiative seeks to acquaint audiences with Arab culture and to rectify any flawed perceptions that the West may hold about the Arab and Islamic world.
The books on display, sourced from both Arab and foreign publishing houses, highlight the mutual interest among writers and readers in exploring and understanding each other’s cultures. This exchange underlines the ability of Arab writers and intellectuals to produce insightful works that inspire Western writers and academics, thereby providing opportunities to correct previously held misconceptions about Arab and Muslim cultures.
Qatar News Agency also reported that Lawrence Al Hanawi, Director General of the Arab Cultural House, mentioned that the fair will be accompanied by a series of cultural programs. These include panel discussions focusing on the role of writers’ fairs in promoting cultural exchange among nations and addressing the challenges faced in translating between Arabic and German, especially the limitations of machine translation in capturing ideas rather than literal meanings.
The event will feature discussions on the Qatari novel model and contemporary Arabic novels from the Gulf region, with contributions from Dr. Noura Al Khaja, Professor of Arabic Literature and Criticism at Qatar University. Dr. Al Khaja will engage in a dialogue with Dr. Claudia Ott, an orientalist and translator.
Additionally, the fair’s agenda includes a panel discussion on Classical and Nabati poetry, featuring Poet Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, Dr. Sarjon Karam, a poet and professor at the Institute of East Asian Studies, University of Bonn, and orientalist and translator Stefan Weidner.
Established by the State of Qatar in November 2017, the Arab Cultural House has expanded its efforts to foster communication and dialogue between East and West. This objective is realized through various activities that showcase Arabic culture to German audiences, encompassing arts and language, and operationalizing Arab cultural products as robust bridges connecting different peoples.
Located in the classical Kolln Palace in Berlin’s Zehlendorf district, Al Diwan provides an ideal venue for cultural gatherings and knowledge dissemination. Its events facilitate dialogue and exchange, reinforcing communication bridges between diverse cultures.