Sharjah: Kalimat Group has decided to expand its focus to include novels, in addition to publishing poetry collections and anthologies with rigorous standards, for both Arab and international poets. This follows years of publishing works by leading poets from various countries. Kalimat Group, based in Sharjah, is considered one of the most important cultural institutions in the UAE and the Arab world. It is a publishing house with a unique character, serving the cultural vision of the Sharjah Cultural Project. A non-profit platform, it was founded in 2007 by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, with a vision to enrich the publishing sector, particularly children’s and young adult books, and to promote reading in Arabic.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, since its inception, Kalimat Group has brought about a qualitative shift and a profound impact on the publishing industry and the Arab book scene, revolutionizing the world of Arabic children’s literature. It has successfully changed the traditional perception of children’s books through vibrant, contemporary illustrations and high-quality artistic production, elevating their artistic and visual value. Since its founding, the group has published more than a thousand titles and established a distribution network of over 130 distributors worldwide.
It has also established a prominent presence at key global publishing platforms, most notably the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, where it won the award for Best Children’s Book Publisher in Asia. This presence has continued to yield significant achievements, with Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi’s book “The House of Wisdom” winning the prestigious Bologna Ragazzi Award for Children’s Literature in the storybook category. This reflects the ability of Arabic content to compete for the most prominent international awards specializing in children’s literature. Furthermore, the group has garnered numerous awards at both the local and regional levels.
Its “Comics” platform has successfully established the concept of “The Ninth Art” (comics and manga) as a recognized literary form that blends visual storytelling with skillfully crafted plots. Its publications have contributed to changing the prevailing stereotype that comics are only for children. Among the platform’s most notable achievements is the adaptation of Kahlil Gibran’s novel “The Prophet” into an Arabic-language illustrated version.
The “Huroof” platform, established in 2013, plays a vital role in child development and reflects an aspect of Kalimat Group’s philosophy. Huroof serves as the foundational pillar for early childhood and education, complementing the other arms of Kalimat Group. A child’s journey begins with Huroof, building their language skills, then progresses to Kalimat’s publications dedicated to children’s and young adult books, culminating in the “Riwayat” and “Comics” publications for adults. Huroof is a pioneering educational initiative, and Riwayat has successfully translated and published diverse Arabic works over the years, spanning various historical periods and artistic and intellectual currents. These works by renowned novelists have left an indelible mark on the world of narrative, including “The Handmaid’s Tale” by the celebrated Canadian author Margaret Atwood and “Animal Farm” by George Orwell. Last year, the publishing house reprinted the works of the great Arab writer Tayeb Salih.