Further phase of Writers Exchange launched between UAE and Germany in cooperation with Goethe Institut

Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF), a leading initiative working to spread knowledge and foster ideas and innovation, has launched the next phase of its Dubai International Program for Writings Writers Exchange by signing an agreement between MBRF and the Goethe Institut of Germany .

In this phase, which begins on November 1, 2015, three writers from Germany will be hosted in the UAE and offered an opportunity to experience the lifestyle in the country to inspire them to narrate their experiences in literary works. During their visit will also get to visit prominent cultural and leisure attractions in the country. The Writers Exchange aims to empower young writers by supporting them to expand the reach of their work across the globe.

Announcing the Writers Exchange, with Germany, at a press conference in Dubai, His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, Managing Director of MBRF, said the Foundations cooperation with Goethe Institut reflects its keen interest to build cultural bridges between the UAE and other countries around the world. The Writers Exchange between the UAE and Germany marks another major milestone for the Dubai International Program for Writing in its efforts to prepare young writers and motivate them to develop their writing capabilities to enhance their expertise at the global level, HE Bin Huwaireb said.

MBRF is committed to building a knowledge based society in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Foundation, stated HE Bin Huwaireb.

We believe that our cooperation with Goethe Institut will strengthen the UAEs cultural relations with Germany. The launch of the first phase of the Writers Exchange between the two countries will offer new avenues in the dissemination and transfer of knowledge and create opportunities for young talent, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Gabriele Landwehr, General Manager of the Goethe Institut, said: The partnership between Goethe Institut and MBRF is a major step that will contribute to broader cooperation between Germany and the UAE, especially in the light of the close cultural ties between the two countries.

Dr. Landwehr pointed out that Goethe Institut had been collaborating with several institutes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai since 2006. The partnership with MBRF reflects the great respect that the famous German writer Goethe had for Arab culture, Dr. Landwehr added.

Upon completion of the visit by the German participants in the Writers Exchange, there will be a visit of Emirati writers to Germany, during which they will get the opportunity to know first-hand the various aspects of German culture and civilization. Following this, the teams from each country will work on three books to produce a total of six books on Germany and the UAE, to be published by the Foundation and German publishers.

Earlier, the Writers Exchange category of Dubai International Program for Writing began with Japan in cooperation with the Japanese Arts and Culture Foundation, attracting the attention of prominent officials in Japan. Currently, three books by Emirati writers and four books by Japanese writers are being prepared for publication. In the light of lack of Arabic books about Japan and Japanese books on the UAE, these literary works will add to the cultural exchange between the two countries.

The Goethe Institut is one of the most respected cultural institutes in Germany with headquarters in Munich. Established in 1951, the institute has played a pivotal role in teaching German language in other countries of the world. It has 144 branches in 80 countries around the world, including branches in the UAE in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, offering cultural awareness programmes and encouraging cultural exchanges between countries through lectures, exhibitions and language courses and movies.

Dubai International Program for Writing was established by MBRF under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2013 to raise the level of intellectual and literary capabilities of young Emirati and Arab writers, and enrich the cultural movement in UAE and the Arab world.