The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), under the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, has launched a dedicated Digital Arabic Library storefront on Amazon, a landmark initiative set to dramatically increase the global availability of Arabic digital content. The move addresses a significant gap in the digital landscape for one of the world’s most widely spoken languages.
Unveiled on January 20, 2026, the digital library makes over 38,000 Arabic titles accessible to a global audience through Kindle eBooks and Audible audiobooks. This vast collection, which includes more than 1,000 free titles, brings together a rich variety of genres, from history and science to fiction and memoirs, featuring both classic literature and contemporary works.
Bridging the Digital Divide for Arabic Literature
The initiative aims to solidify the Arabic language’s position within the global digital ecosystem, making its rich cultural and intellectual heritage more accessible to new generations and the global diaspora of over 400 million Arabic speakers.
His Excellency Dr Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, stated that the initiative is a core part of ALC’s mission to expand international access to Arabic culture and knowledge.
A Global Storefront Powered by Amazon
Leveraging Amazon’s extensive infrastructure, including AWS cloud services and Amazon Ads brand store capabilities, the Digital Arabic Library offers an enhanced user experience. The storefront is designed with Arabic-inspired visual elements and integrates customer ratings and reviews to aid content discovery across its catalogue of over 33,000 Kindle eBooks and 5,000 Audible audiobooks.
Ronaldo Mouchawar, Vice President for Amazon Middle East, Africa and Turkey, commented that the collaboration aims to boost the global discoverability of Arabic content while supporting the region’s authors and publishers as they navigate the transition to digital publishing models.
Empowering Regional Authors and Publishers
Beyond readers, the platform provides a significant boost to publishers across the Middle East and North Africa by improving discoverability and enabling seamless digital distribution to a global market. The focus on audiobooks, one of the fastest-growing segments in publishing, also offers new ways for audiences to engage with Arabic literature.
Over the next three years, ALC will collaborate with regional publishers to continuously expand the library’s collection. Arabookverse, its operating agency, will manage the intake, digitization, and international distribution of titles, while Amazon will handle promotion to its global user base.
About the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre
The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), established under the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, is dedicated to promoting the Arabic language and fostering its development in the educational, cultural, and creative sectors. The ALC works to support Arab talent and advance the presence of the Arabic language on a global scale through various initiatives, awards, and publishing programmes.
Source: MEA TechWatch
