Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), has partnered with Amazon to launch the Digital Arabic Library storefront on Amazon, expanding global access to Arabic-language digital content.
Available at www.amazon.com/digitalarabiclibrary, the dedicated storefront features more than 38,000 Arabic titles, including over 33,000 Kindle eBooks and more than 5,000 Audible audiobooks. Over 1,000 titles are available at no cost, aiming to address the limited availability of Arabic content in the global digital space despite the language being spoken by more than 400 million people worldwide.
The Digital Arabic Library offers a wide range of genres, including history, science, health, memoirs, fiction, and non-fiction, showcasing both contemporary works and classical Arabic literature. Popular titles include The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, The Muqaddimah by Ibn Khaldun, The Days by Taha Hussein, Cairo Modern by Naguib Mahfouz, The Blue Elephant by Ahmed Mourad, and The Lost Star by Sara Al Shamsi, along with translated works such as The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
His Excellency Dr Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, said:
“We at the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre have been harnessing and leveraging our expertise in the publishing industry to enhance the presence of Arabic content in the global digital space. This project will provide new and innovative channels to facilitate access to Arabic cultural content for readers wherever they may be. Given the small percentage of Arabic content available online despite the large number of Arabic speakers, this initiative will play an important role in breaking down barriers, increasing access to Arabic literature, and strengthening awareness on the international stage.”
Amazon has supported the initiative by deploying its Ads solutions and AWS cloud services to enhance discoverability and user experience. The storefront features traditional Arabic calligraphy-inspired design, customer ratings, and reviews to help readers explore available titles.
Ronaldo Mouchawar, Vice President, Amazon Middle East, Africa and Turkey, said:
“We are proud to have collaborated with the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre to bring this meaningful initiative to life, making Arabic content accessible to millions of Arabic speakers worldwide. The Digital Arabic Library delivers a seamless experience where customers can easily discover thousands of Arabic Kindle eBooks and Audible audiobooks across different genres in one place. We are celebrating the richness of Arabic culture, while supporting local publishers and authors in the region, as we connect Arabic speakers worldwide with content that matters to them, their culture, and heritage.”
The initiative also supports Arabic publishers in adapting to digital publishing, with audiobook offerings from Audible providing additional formats for readers and listeners. Over the next three years, ALC plans to expand the collection in collaboration with publishers across the Middle East and North Africa. ALC’s operating agency, Arabookverse, will oversee book intake, digitisation, and global distribution.
