Translating Arabic literature is only half the battle, say experts

Literary translation involves more than finding equivalent words in another language.

It requires an understanding of cultural identity, historical context and the publishing decisions that determine which stories reach international readers, scholars and translators said at the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026).

Organised by Kitab Magazine, and moderated by Ali Al-Ameri, the session brought together Dr Safa Jubran, Dr Mhamed Dahi, Dr Sana Darghmouni and Haitham Hussein to examine the opportunities and challenges facing Arabic literature in translation.

For Dr Safa Jubran, a Lebanese-Brazilian academic and literary translator working between Arabic and Portuguese, translation must preserve the cultural and political meanings that direct linguistic equivalents cannot always capture.

“Translation is not simply about finding an equivalent word in another language. It is about conveying the soul of the expression, its context and the world from which it emerges,” she explained.

Moroccan literary critic Dr Mhamed Dahi examined the role of translators in introducing Arabic literature to international audiences, citing translations of Naguib Mahfouz's works into French.

He highlighted the contributions of Arab intellectuals and diaspora members educated in Western countries, alongside Orientalist translators whose engagement with Arab literature helped introduce its works to foreign readers.

“The journey of Arabic literature into other languages has been carried, in large part, by people who understood both its cultural foundations and the literary traditions of the languages into which it was translated,” he observed.

Dr Sana Darghmouni, a Moroccan professor of comparative literature who has translated Mahmoud Darwish's works into Italian, discussed translation's role in challenging historical representations of Arab societies as exotic or fundamentally different from European cultures.

“Literary translation has helped us move beyond these limited representations by presenting the diversity of Arab literature and placing Arab experiences within the broader framework of human experience,” she said.

She noted that literary awards have helped introduce Arab writers to wider audiences, but cautioned that translation choices are influenced by publishing priorities, commercial expectations and translators' perceptions.

Kurdish-Syrian novelist, translator and critic Haitham Hussein focused on the challenge of ensuring that translated books reach their intended audiences. He observed that accomplished Arabic works translated into English sometimes struggle to gain recognition despite the quality of their translations.

“The translator may do an excellent job of bringing a literary work into English, but translation alone does not guarantee that the book will reach readers. There is also a need to invest in making these works visible and bringing them into the conversations of literary audiences,” he said.

His remarks highlighted the importance of promotion, distribution and critical engagement in building a sustained international readership for Arabic literature.