“There is a saying in Arabic – ‘Al kitaab khayr al sadiq’ – a book is a best friend," says Ersat Hurmuzlu, from a brown leather chair in front of a large graphic wall hanging of Ottoman sultan Mehmet the Conqueror. "People don’t read too much now because of social media and so on. We are now defending our best friend.”
Mr Hurmuzlu is not only determined to spare books and reading from modern-day distractions. He is also aiming to use literature to create better bonds between Turks and Arabs by translating books, especially by Palestinian authors.
“We noticed that the translation between these two languages, Arabic and Turkish, is weak," he says, sipping from a tiny cup of Turkish coffee. “We said that one of our aims should be to encourage translation between these two important languages.”
Mr Hurmuzlu, who flits between fluent English, Arabic and Turkish in conversation, established Bab El Amud publishing house in Istanbul about a year ago alongside Khalil Assali, a Jerusalem-based writer who has long-standing ties with Turkey.
The publishing house, set up in a restored wooden building in Istanbul’s Zeytinburnu district, is named after one of the seven gates into the old city of Jerusalem – a city that resonates with both Arabs and Turks, given its central importance in Islam.
Bab El Amud’s aim is to bring Turks and Arabs together and improve relations between two peoples that, throughout history, have not always been on the best terms. The Ottoman Empire ruled over Arab lands for centuries, before Britain and other colonial powers backed Arab revolts against Ottoman rule.
Between Arabs and Turks, “there are not only stereotypes, but also prejudgements. We have to demolish this,” says Mr Hurmuzlu, who served as a senior adviser to former Turkish prime minister Abdullah Gul.
Mr Hurmuzlu is putting politics to the side for now, though. "We are not involved in politics,” he says. “We are focusing on literature about brotherhood and dialogue.”
So far, Bab El Amud has published 11 titles. On the ground floor of the two-storey building, furnished with handwoven rugs and elegant Arabic calligraphy, workers sellotape boxes of books to be sent to distributors in Beirut and Amman. The publishing house is also in talks with a distributor in Riyadh, Mr Hurmuzlu says, to expand its titles’ reach across the Middle East.
The founders took a decision to base the firm in Istanbul rather than Jerusalem or elsewhere.
"There is, you know, better room for movement here in Istanbul,” says Mr Hurmuzlu, whose family originated in the Turkish city of Konya before spreading as far as Baghdad and Mosul in Iraq.
The aim is “to introduce Arabic and Turkish literature to each other - Arabic works and literature to Turkish people, and to translate Turkish literature into Arabic," said Dr Halit Eren, one of Bab El Amud’s four directors and former director of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation’s Research Centre For Islamic History, Art and Culture.
Bab El Amud’s founders hope is that the two cultures will have access to better information and more context about each other through translated literature and history.
We want to leave something for the next generations of Arabs and Turks
Khalil Assali,
co-founder of Bab El Amud publishing house
“Jerusalem means a lot to Turks, given the importance of Al Aqsa mosque – but they don’t know much about the city,” says Khalil Assali, over the phone from Jerusalem. “We want to provide them with more information so they better understand the city. The same for the Arabs of the Gulf and other regions about Turkey – they like Turkey, but don’t know much about it.”
One work published so far is a translation into Turkish of Palestinian author Mahmoud Shukair’s Ceiling of Desires, a collection of very short stories about Jerusalem told through tales of love.
“It was shame, because Shukair has around 70 books, including for children and so on,” says Mr Hurmuzlu, who did the translation. “And these books have been translated into English, French, Italian, Chinese but not into Turkish. So we said, we have to start this, and we did so with this one.”
Bab El Amud has also published an Arabic translation of the travelogue through modern-day Palestine, Lebanon and Syria of Evliya Celebi, a famous Ottoman explorer. The 159-page book, Evliya Celebi and the Jerusalem Journey, was first translated from Ottoman Turkish into modern-day Turkish, and then into Arabic. The plan is to next publish another section of Celebi’s writings, detailing his journeys through Iraq and modern-day southern Turkey.
A third book is the translation into Arabic of Yilmaz Oztuna’s Turkish history before the Ottoman era – a rendering aimed at widening understanding of older parts of the country’s past.
The publishing house is still in its early days, but the response from readers has been positive, Mr Hurmuzlu says.
“We are relatively new, but people admired this, and they expressed their support to us,” he says.
Bab El Amud recently exhibited at Istanbul’s International Arabic Book Fair, which this year attracted more than 63,000 visitors and brands itself as the largest show of Arabic literature outside the Arab world.
Khalil Assali believes that Bab El Amud’s offering of cultural and historical books distinguish it from “commercial” publishing and translation houses that select works by the four or five biggest authors.
“We offer something different,” he says.
Mr Assali also believes that the project has gained importance since the October 7 Hamas attacks, the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza, and widespread violence in Israel and Palestine. Turks are widely supportive of Palestinian issues but leaving behind a legacy of building bonds through books is key, he says.
“We want to leave something for the next generations of Arabs and Turks,” he explains.
“This is to show them that despite the difficult conditions – and indeed we are living under extreme stress in Jerusalem at the moment – that we left a legacy of literature, and connections between the two peoples.”
The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre
Men’s singles
Group A: Son Wan-ho (Kor), Lee Chong Wei (Mas), Ng Long Angus (HK), Chen Long (Chn)
Group B: Kidambi Srikanth (Ind), Shi Yugi (Chn), Chou Tien Chen (Tpe), Viktor Axelsen (Den)
Women’s Singles
Group A: Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn), Pusarla Sindhu (Ind), Sayaka Sato (Jpn), He Bingjiao (Chn)
Group B: Tai Tzu Ying (Tpe), Sung Hi-hyun (Kor), Ratchanok Intanon (Tha), Chen Yufei (Chn)
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Racecard
%3Cp%3E8.30pm%3A%20Wathba%20Stallions%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(Turf)%201%2C200m%3Cbr%3E9pm%3A%20Yas%20Island%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%3Cbr%3E9.30pm%3A%20Saadiyat%20Island%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%3Cbr%3E10pm%3A%20Reem%20Island%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%202%2C200m%3Cbr%3E10.30pm%3A%20Arabian%20Triple%20Crown%20Round%203%20%E2%80%93%20Group%203%20(PA)%20Dh300%2C000%20(T)%202%2C400m%3Cbr%3E11pm%3A%20Al%20Maryah%20Island%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
UAE group fixtures
Sunday Feb 23, 9.30am, v Iran
Monday Feb 25, 1pm, v Kuwait
Tuesday Feb 26, 9.30am, v Saudi
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza, Rohan Mustafa, Alishan Sharafu, Ansh Tandon, Vriitya Aravind, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Basil Hameed, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Ayaz, Zahoor Khan, Chirag Suri, Sultan Ahmed
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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9.
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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RESULTS
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,000m
Winner: AF Mozhell, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)
2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Majdi, Szczepan Mazur, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: AF Athabeh, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: AF Eshaar, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi
4pm: Gulf Cup presented by Longines Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Al Roba’a Al Khali, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Younis Al Kalbani
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Apolo Kid, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muahiri
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
