
The Abu Dhabi nonprofit organization Kalima works to ensure that Arabic speakers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have access to written works from around the world in order to promote learning and appreciation of the literary traditions of other cultures. To this end, Kalima sponsors the translation of 100 works of literature annually, as well as their publication and distribution throughout the UAE. Kalima chooses key titles ranging from classics to modern works, which have included the writings of business leaders such as Alan Greenspan and Peter Drucker, authors of fictional works such as Astrid Lindgren and Geoffrey Chaucer, and the philosophical treatises of Jacques Lacan and Thomas Hobbes.
The organization also participates in literacy events around the world. In 2008, it served as a co-sponsor with the White House and Library of Congress for Washington, D.C.’s National Book Festival. Kalima invited attendees to nominate their favorite works by U.S. authors for translation.