Kitab magazine highlights Poland’s cultural celebration of Sharjah

The monthly publication, issued by the Sharjah Book Authority, also features a study on the renowned Polish poet Krystyna Miłobędzka (1932–2025), whose portrait appears on the cover. In addition, it includes a report on the participation programme reflecting Sharjah’s global standing, with the involvement of 50 Emirati and Polish writers.

Editorial underscores Sharjah’s cultural vision

In the issue’s editorial, Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority and Editor-in-Chief, authored an article titled “A Polish tribute befitting Sharjah”. He wrote: “Many countries have celebrated Sharjah and its cultural project led by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for five decades, guided by his wise and far-sighted vision. He is a scholar, historian and author who, from the outset, recognised that books illuminate minds and hearts, and serve as a bridge for familiarity, harmony, affection, cooperation and partnership among peoples.”

He added: “Under the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, we have prepared a programme for Sharjah’s participation in this Polish cultural event that reflects the Emirate’s global cultural stature, expresses the identity of our Arab culture, and embodies the essence of culture in building bridges of dialogue between peoples.”

Programme reflects cultural dialogue

Al Ameri described Sharjah’s participation in Poland—whose literature has produced five Nobel Prize winners—as “a reflection of the Emirate’s bright image, the depth of Arab culture, and the spirit of cultural fraternity between Sharjah and Warsaw”. He added: “Sharjah presents a series of events featuring leading Emirati writers alongside their Polish counterparts, embodying the meaning of dialogue, where two symbols meet in one image: the Scroll Monument at the House of Wisdom in Sharjah, and the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, which stands at its entrance alongside monuments to the astronomer Copernicus and the renowned poet Adam Mickiewicz.”

Diverse literary content

The issue also includes an interview with Cameroonian writer Ambroise Kom and another with Emirati poet Abdullah Al Hadiya, alongside articles and studies on dystopian literature and the historical novel. It examines the works of British poet Ted Hughes, Bulgarian poet Ivan Metodiev, and Argentine writer Samanta Schweblin, as well as a feature on the Spanish city of Córdoba marking the 900th anniversary of the birth of the Andalusian philosopher Ibn Rushd. The issue further contains book reviews of authors from Syria, Morocco, Japan, France, Palestine, Jordan, Ukraine, Iraq and Singapore

Commitment to global cultural coverage

In the “Raqeem” column, Managing Editor Ali Al Ameri wrote about Kitab magazine’s commitment to tracking literature and publishing movements across diverse cultural regions, stating that it has covered multiple linguistic geographies from Asia to Africa, Europe and Latin America. He noted that Polish culture has been present in the magazine since its second issue, published in November 2018, reaffirming its motto: “A cultural bridge from Sharjah to the continents.”