King Faisal Center Hosts Second Symposium on Translating Cultures

The UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS), supported by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, held the second symposium in its launch series for the newly published Routledge volume Translating Cultures in the Arab World: New Histories and Geographies. The event, announced via the Saudi Press Agency, brought together leading Saudi and international scholars to explore translation as a dynamic force in cultural exchange and knowledge production.

Context and Background

The symposium, held in Riyadh, builds on the first event in the series, which took place on September 21 and focused on philology, untranslatability, linguistic diversity, and language justice. The second symposium shifted from conceptual foundations to tracing the historical trajectories of translation across the Arab and Mediterranean worlds, highlighting moments when translation facilitated the circulation of knowledge and intellectual exchange. It opened with remarks by Umer Al-Dulaimi, Research Assistant at the UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures, and was moderated by Professor Michael Syrotinski, Marshall Professor of French and Comparative Literature at the University of Glasgow.

Key Details

The symposium featured four distinguished speakers. Professor Abdessalam Benabdelali of Mohammed V University examined the movement of philosophical texts into and out of Arabic, calling for a more dynamic philosophy of translation that engages contemporary realities. Dr. Andreas Karatsolis, Director of Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), outlined three conditions for a sustainable culture of translation: institutional patronage, openness to interaction, and a self-reinforcing cycle of demand. Professor Ovidi Carbonell Cortés of the University of Salamanca analyzed translation in sixteenth-century Islamic Spain, focusing on Aljamiado texts and the role of the Arabic alphabet in preserving Morisco identity. Dr. Mohammed Alsudairi, Lecturer at the Australian National University and Research Fellow at KFCRIS, highlighted the contemporary Gulf moment, noting the rise in translation activity since the mid-1990s and its link to post-oil economic transitions and artificial intelligence initiatives in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.

Implications and Impact

The symposium underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a global hub for translation studies and cross-cultural dialogue. By convening scholars from Morocco, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Saudi Arabia, the event reinforces the Kingdom’s commitment to fostering intellectual exchange and preserving cultural heritage. The discussions on translation and power relations, identity, and technology offer valuable insights for policymakers, academics, and cultural institutions worldwide, positioning the Arab world as a productive site of knowledge and cultural exchange.

Vision 2030 Alignment

This initiative directly supports Saudi Vision 2030’s goals of promoting cultural enrichment, international collaboration, and knowledge-based economic growth. Through the UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures and partnerships with global academic institutions, the Kingdom is advancing its role as a leader in cultural diplomacy and innovation, ensuring that Arabic language and heritage remain central to global intellectual discourse.

20 Questions

Q1. What was the main event discussed in the article?

A1. The article covers the second symposium in a series launching the book Translating Cultures in the Arab World: New Histories and Geographies, held by the UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures at KFCRIS in Riyadh.

Q2. Who organized the symposium?

A2. The symposium was organized by the UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS), with support from the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission.

Q3. When did the second symposium take place?

A3. The second symposium took place in Riyadh, as reported on October 7, 2026, following the first symposium held on September 21, 2026.

Q4. What was the focus of the first symposium?

A4. The first symposium addressed questions of philology, untranslatability, linguistic diversity, and language justice in the context of translating cultures.

Q5. Who moderated the second symposium?

A5. Professor Michael Syrotinski, Marshall Professor of French and Comparative Literature at the University of Glasgow, moderated the second symposium.

Q6. Which scholars participated in the symposium?

A6. Participants included Professor Abdessalam Benabdelali, Dr. Andreas Karatsolis, Professor Ovidi Carbonell Cortés, and Dr. Mohammed Alsudairi, along with opening remarks by Umer Al-Dulaimi.

Q7. What did Professor Benabdelali discuss?

A7. He examined the movement of philosophical texts into and out of Arabic, emphasizing the need for a dynamic philosophy of translation and the importance of retranslation in sustaining philosophical discourse.

Q8. What was the topic of Professor Carbonell Cortés’s presentation?

A8. He discussed cultural translation and appropriation in sixteenth-century Islamic Spain, focusing on the Moriscos, Aljamiado texts, and the role of the Arabic alphabet in preserving identity.

Q9. What are Aljamiado texts?

A9. Aljamiado texts are writings in which Moriscos used Arabic script to write Spanish, helping preserve their cultural memory and resist assimilation after the fall of Granada.

Q10. What three elements did Dr. Karatsolis identify for a sustainable culture of translation?

A10. He identified institutional or elite patronage, openness and sustained interaction among cultures, and a cycle of demand for translation that generates new knowledge and further demand.

Q11. How did Dr. Alsudairi describe the contemporary Gulf moment?

A11. He noted the growth of translation activity in the Gulf since the late twentieth century, accelerating in the twenty-first century, and linked it to post-oil economic transitions and knowledge transfer needs.

Q12. What connection did Dr. Alsudairi make between translation and AI?

A12. He highlighted that translation efforts in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE are connected to AI initiatives, particularly Arabic-language models, to address the translation gap and strengthen Arabic in technology.

Q13. When was the book Translating Cultures in the Arab World published?

A13. The book was published by Routledge in August 2026.

Q14. Who edited the book?

A14. The book was edited by Dr. Moneera Al-Ghadeer, Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures, Professor Charles Forsdick, and Dr. Andreas Karatsolis.

Q15. What is the theme of the UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures?

A15. The chair’s theme is ‘Rethinking Translating Cultures and Its Conceptual Framework,’ which guided the symposium and the published volume.

Q16. How does the symposium contribute to Saudi Vision 2030?

A16. It supports Vision 2030 by promoting cultural enrichment, international collaboration, and knowledge-based growth, enhancing Saudi Arabia’s role in global cultural diplomacy.

Q17. What is the significance of the symposium for the Arab world?

A17. It repositions the Arab world as a productive site of knowledge and cultural exchange, challenging Eurocentric narratives and highlighting historical contributions to translation.

Q18. Who is Umer Al-Dulaimi?

A18. Umer Al-Dulaimi is a Research Assistant at the UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures and delivered opening remarks at the second symposium.

Q19. What was the role of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission?

A19. The commission supported the symposium, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s institutional commitment to advancing translation and cultural initiatives under Vision 2030.

Q20. What future events can be expected from this series?

A20. The series will likely continue with further symposia and discussions, building on the momentum of the first two events to explore additional themes in translating cultures.

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