Magrudy's bookstore says demand for Arabic titles is on the rise, and the books now account for almost 20 per cent of the chain's book sales. However, this varies greatly across the country, with the Al Ain stores split equally between Arabic and English most weeks. At some central Dubai stores with large expatriate clienteles, the sales of Arabic books drop to as low as five per cent.
Matthew Cowdery, book range manager, said: "Arabic book sales are on the rise for many reasons. Increasing interest in books among Emiratis is certainly one, and an increased Arabic-speaking expatriate population seems to be another." He said another reason for the increase is that popular English-language titles, by authors like Dan Brown and Stephenie Meyer, are being translated more quickly, while initiatives including the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in Dubai and the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (the Arabic Booker) are promoting awareness of original fiction in Arabic.
Mr Cowdery noted that Gulf publishers, being more affluent, are more inclined to produce local works with high production values, whereas the traditional Arabic centres of publishing, Cairo and Beirut, are less able to produce books that meet international standards. "For our part we are also investing in Arabic-speaking staff whenever possible, increasing our range and bringing many of the marketing initiatives common to English-language bookselling to our Arabic department," he said.
"Adult titles still dominate the sales in Arabic books but better children's books are beginning to be produced, with our sister publishing house Jerboa Books being one source. Demand is there and new initiatives like the translation of kids' bestseller The Gruffalo into Arabic will help." The Gruffalo was published in English in 1999. The story of a cunning mouse who avoids being made into a meal, it has sold more than 10 million copies. Now it is being made available in Arabic as part of a deal between the Qatar Foundation and the British publisher, Bloomsbury.
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