Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair's (ADIBF) new annual Emirati Pioneers initiative is celebrating the contributions of Mohammed Al Murr, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, to UAE literature, media and cultural institutions.
Al Murr has published 12 short-story collections documenting social change in the UAE. His journalistic writings have also been compiled into books, two of which have been included in university curricula. His career has also spanned leadership roles at the Cultural and Scientific Association (NADWA) and Dubai Cultural Council, and he contributed to the establishment of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority in 2008.
The fair is showcasing his legacy through a dedicated pavilion; a biographical mural, rare items from his collection and an Arabic-English documentary.
His wider interests include rare manuscripts, visual art, contemporary Arabic calligraphy and the postal history of the UAE and Oman.
Speaking to Aletihad during the fair, Lateefa Al Qubaisi, Community Outreach & Cultural Engagement Unit Head at Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and Project Manager for Emirati Pioneers initiative, pointed to Al Murr’s wide-ranging contributions to the country’s literary, media and cultural development as a key factor behind the decision.
“His Excellency is a prominent literary and media figure, and he has made significant contributions to supporting and developing cultural institutions in the UAE,” she said.
“Throughout his career, he has held a number of positions and responsibilities through which he has contributed to enriching the cultural and media landscape.”
Beyond his institutional and professional achievements, Al Qubaisi said Al Murr’s own writing offers perhaps the clearest way for readers to discover the person, ideas and experiences behind his public career.
“His writings are a real window into him; his personality, his thought, his experience and his culture,” she said.
