Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Amazon have partnered to launch the world’s most comprehensive digital Arabic collection through the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC). The initiative was announced at the Congress of Arabic and Creative Industries.
Over the next three years, thousands of Arabic-language books will be made accessible in eBook and audiobook formats, marking a major step in expanding global access to Arabic literature and culture.
In his opening keynote address, Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) chairman Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said the library aims to make Arabic books more accessible than ever by combining the centre’s curatorial expertise with Amazon’s technological distribution capabilities.
While the launch date has yet to be revealed, the new library will join the Dubai Digital Library in expanding Arabic digital resources in the region.
Launched in 2018, Dubai’s collection has grown to more than 245,000 titles – including books, audiobooks, periodicals, newspapers, magazines and research papers.
The initiative supports ALC’s mission to:
Promote Arabic readership globally
Preserve and digitise Arabic heritage
Engage younger generations through Kindle and Audible
With more than 400 million Arabic speakers worldwide, the project aims to serve both regional and diaspora audiences that remain underrepresented in digital publishing.
Over the next three years, ALC will collaborate with publishers across the MENA region to digitise print titles. Amazon will amplify visibility through its extensive global marketing and distribution networks.
The programme also provides technical and operational support to help publishers adapt to the rapidly growing digital books sector, creating new opportunities for Arabic authors and publishers to connect with readers worldwide.
Ronaldo Mouchawar, Vice President at Amazon Middle East, Africa and Turkey, added:
“The Arabic language is a pillar of our culture and identity, carrying centuries of knowledge, creativity, and connection. By collaborating with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, we aim to celebrate and expand access to this rich heritage. Amazon began as a destination for books, and today we unite our stores, Amazon Ads solutions, and AWS cloud services to enable the most comprehensive Digital Arabic Library on Amazon. Together, we’re combining technology and culture to inspire readers and creators across the Arab world, sharing the beauty of Arabic globally.”
Also presented were the findings of a survey of Arab youth, which highlighted both pride in the Arabic language and concern about its future.
Commissioned by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and based on interviews with about 4,000 young people across 10 Arab countries, the study pointed to calls for a more practical approach to the language in how it is taught and harnessed by education and cultural institutions.
While 84 per cent of respondents said Arabic is central to their identity, two-thirds worry about its diminishing use in science and digital domains.
