Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (WAM)
Romanian linguist Ioan Birta, President of the Association of Romanians in the Balkan (ARB), has revealed a unique archive of rare Arabic manuscripts and valuable Romanian collections.
His trove includes between 600,000 and 700,000 artefacts spanning from prehistoric times to the 17th century.
In statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Birta expressed pride in his first participation at the 2025 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF). He highlighted his extensive literary output of around 45 books, each between 600 and 800 pages, reflecting his broad research interests.
Birta described his latest work as a multilingual historical reference featuring verified sources, including a rare Ibn Sina manuscript and over 4,500 documents on Aristotle’s philosophy.
It also contains a rare 10th-century manuscript titled “Foundations of the Arabic Language and Islamic Religion”, with 114 files translated into English, German, Romanian, Serbian, and Arabic.
He also discussed the significance of early educational texts, highlighting the historical value of schoolbooks that were widely used across Europe from the 16th to 19th centuries.
These materials, some of which are preserved in their original archives, played a crucial role in shaping foundational literacy and continue to hold a special place in educational heritage.
Reflecting on this year’s edition of the book fair, Birta praised the strong turnout across all age groups, especially among children and students, calling it a sign of growing cultural awareness and a reinforcement of the fair’s role in fostering knowledge among future generations.
He also expressed his honour at meeting Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, describing it as a meaningful gesture reflecting the UAE’s dedication to culture and knowledge.
