Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism has celebrated International Translation Day with the launch of a dedicated bookshop for Department employees at Nation Towers, Abu Dhabi, where visitors can take advantage of a special discount of 80% on all products.

The department also distributed translated novels by the Kalima Project to each employee as part of its ongoing efforts to encourage reading habits amongst the local community and wider UAE audiences.

International Translation Day is celebrated every year on 30th September. First established in 1953 by the International Federation of Translators, the event was only officially recognised in 1991. It was launched in appreciation of the profession of translators, who endeavour to break down language barriers and make different cultures more accessible for everyone.

Abdullah Majid Al Ali, Executive Director of the National Library Sector at the Department of Culture and Tourism, said, "The distribution of books to all Department of Culture and Tourism staff at Nation Towers and the special discount offered at the book store, are part of the National Library’s mission to promote widespread engagement with important initiatives like the Kalima project. The sharing of knowledge across cultures and languages is integral to what we aim to achieve through Kalima, where we have successfully translated some of the most important works in international literature over the past decade. Events such as these at Nation Towers have been integral to our mission to support the development of translation in the UAE."