Sheikh Hamad Award Delegation to Visit Brazil
High-level delegation to visit São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and participate in two seminars on translation and cultural exchange between Arabic and Portuguese
A high-level delegation from the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding will visit Brazil from 17 to 24 October 2026, covering São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, in preparation for the Award's 13th edition in 2027, which will feature Portuguese among the languages selected for the Achievement Category. The visit aims to strengthen cultural and academic cooperation between the Arab world and Brazil, promote translation between Arabic and Portuguese, and expand engagement with Brazilian universities, cultural institutions, publishers, translators, and researchers.
The delegation comprises Dr. Mohammed Al-Ahmari, Director General of the Award; Eng. Labib Al-Nahhas, Executive Director; Dr. Mujab Al-Imam, member of the Award's Scientific Committee and Head of its Translation Department; and Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Marri, Media Officer, alongside members of the Award's media team.
The visit is particularly significant as Portuguese has been selected for the second time in the Award's history, following its first selection in 2019. This reflects the Award's commitment to supporting translation between Arabic and Portuguese, promoting Arab literature and thought in Brazil, and introducing Brazilian cultural works to Arabic-speaking readers.
Cultural Event at the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in São Paulo
The Award will begin its cultural program in São Paulo on Monday, 19 October, by participating in an event hosted by the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with Casa Árabe, the Institute of Arab Culture, and the Federal University of São Paulo. The event will bring together representatives of cultural and academic institutions, publishing houses, and the media.
Discussions will focus on strengthening cultural and intellectual exchange between Brazil and the Arab world, encouraging the translation of literary and intellectual works between Arabic and Portuguese, and expanding the presence of Arab authors at Brazilian book fairs and cultural events. Participants will also explore opportunities to bring translated Brazilian literature to Arab publishing markets.
The event will provide an opportunity to introduce the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding, its objectives, categories, and nomination requirements, particularly the Achievement Category, for which Portuguese has been selected in the 2027 edition.
Seminar at the Brazilian National Library on the Translation of Arabic Literature
In Rio de Janeiro, the Award's delegation will participate on Friday, 23 October, in a seminar organised by the Brazilian National Library entitled "A New Nahda Between the Tropics: Translating Arabic Literature in Brazil." The seminar will bring together prominent academics, translators, and researchers specializing in Arabic literature and Arab-Brazilian cultural relations.
Speakers will include Dr. Marco Lucchesi, President of the Brazilian National Library Foundation; Dr. Mohammed Al-Ahmari, Director General of the Award; Dr. Safa Jubran, professor at the University of São Paulo and winner of the Achievement Award in the 2019 edition; and translators and researchers Jemima Alves and Felipe Benjamin.
The seminar will examine the current state of Arabic literature translated into Portuguese, the challenges facing translators and publishers, and ways to expand the presence of Arabic works in Brazil's cultural landscape. It will also highlight the role of translation in fostering mutual understanding and bringing cultures closer together.
The program will also include a visit to the National Library's facilities and an introduction to its collections and cultural projects, with a view to exploring opportunities for cooperation with this longstanding institution in translation, publishing, and intellectual exchange.
Academic and Professional Meetings to Strengthen Cooperation
Alongside these two major events, the delegation's program includes a visit to the University of São Paulo on Tuesday, 20 October, for meetings with university officials, professors, and researchers. Discussions will address the state of Arabic studies and translation in Brazil and explore opportunities for academic and cultural cooperation.
The program will also feature meetings with Brazilian publishers specializing in works translated from Arabic. These discussions will focus on the challenges facing the publication of Arabic literature in Brazil and opportunities to expand cooperation between publishers and translators in both countries.
The visit forms part of the Award's longstanding approach of engaging directly with academic and cultural communities in countries whose languages are selected for its editions, gaining firsthand insight into the translation landscape and the challenges facing professionals in the field. Through this visit, the Award hopes to strengthen its relationships with Brazilian institutions, translators, and publishers, open new avenues for cooperation, and encourage further translations between Arabic and Portuguese, thereby promoting intellectual and cultural exchange between the Arab world and Brazil.