ABU DHABI // Twilight, the vampire romance of Edward Cullen and Isabella Swan that has gripped readers the world over, is to be published for the first time in Arabic.
New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn followed. The saga, written by American author Stephenie Meyer, will be in shops across the country within 10 days.
To date the saga has sold more than 42 million copies worldwide. A big-screen adaptation of Twilight released last year cemented the novels' popularity; a New Moon adaptation has been filmed and is due out this November.
Thanks to Haissam Fadel, marketing manager at the Arab Cultural Centre in Morocco and head of the newly established Sama Publishing house, Arabic-language readers can now fully embrace the Twilight phenomenon.
"Adult and teenage fiction in the form of novels in Arabic is something very new in the Arab world - very rare and almost unheard of in Arabic literature," Mr Fadel said. "We definitely lack this kind of fiction, and as a publisher, I'm always on the lookout for something that will make an impact on the Arabic literary scene."
Mr Fadel, a Lebanese who has lived all his life in Morocco, was in a bookstore last year when he noticed the distinctive, thick black book with the austere touches of red and white that made Twilight and the other three in the series stand out.
"I had heard a lot about this novel that was on all the bestseller lists, so I bought it and read it in just a couple of days," Mr Fadel said.
"I thought to myself, 'Wow, this is something different!' I researched the agent, made an appointment to sit down and talk at the Frankfurt Book Fair last year in October, and negotiated to buy the Arabic-language rights to all four novels."
Mr Fadel saw something special in the Twilight series.
"In fact, we set up Sama Publishing, a division of the Arab Cultural Centre, specifically to publish the Twilight series. We want to start a publishing house that deals with novels for youth. There is a whole untapped market out there," he said.
Although Twilight and its three sequels: New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, have been translated into 37 languages with more than 42 million copies sold around the world, Arabic has only recently joined the list.
Four different translators were hired to translate the four books, and the first copies of Twilight in the Arabic version are barely a week old.
"Of course, it would have been better to use one translator for all four books, but we wanted all the books to be readily available to customers," said Mr Fadel.
Maha al Ahmed from Palestine is planning to use her summer holiday this year to bury herself in the Twilight series, before school resumes for her in autumn.
The 15-year-old student said she had already read all four books three times, and had no qualms about embarking on a fourth reading.
"My friends and I are such huge fans; Edward Cullen is our life," she said, owning up to the fact that she has signed up on multiple Twilight fansites, as well as active on Facebook pages that are dedicated to the book and to the movie.
"It's so cool that the book will be translated into Arabic. Maybe now my mom will read it and get it when I tell her that it's the best book ever," said Maha.
Twilight fans have been consistent in expressing an interest in the release of the book in the Arabic language, eager to see if there will be any changes to tone or style from the original.
Zahra al Qasem has read the books in English but plans on rereading them in Arabic as soon as she can get her hands on a copy.
"My first language is Arabic, so I think I'll enjoy the books even more if I can read them in my language," she said.
"Now that I know an Arabic version is coming out, I think I'll be checking bookstores on a daily basis!"
Some of Abu Dhabi's and Dubai's major bookstores had not yet heard that Twilight can now be ordered in Arabic.
"The English copies of Twilight and the other books in the series have always done very well, said Bala Subramanian, the chief buying officer for Magrudy's.
"If it really is coming out in Arabic, then we would definitely want to stock it in our bookstores."
Angelo Perera, sales manager at Kinokuniya bookstore in Dubai Mall, has already been in touch with Mr Fadel to obtain copies of Twilight in Arabic, which is entitled Al Shafaq.
"We have the book in English, French, German. Of course we have to have it in Arabic," said Mr Perera. "It is definitely going to sell well in the UAE. We can predict that just from how well it's selling in English."
Other major bookstores such as Dar al Hikma, Jarir, and the University bookshops have placed orders with Sama Publishing, and are awaiting the books within the next few weeks.
By the end of July, the Arabic copies of New Moon and Eclipse will also be available in bookstores across the Middle East and North Africa, closely followed in August by Breaking Dawn.
Mr Fadel said he was sure the Arabic versions of the books would be a success.
"Of course, it is difficult to predict sales as the book is just now reaching shelves and has only been out for three or four days, but I expect it to do well," said Mr Fadel.
"When we bought the rights, we knew we'd do good things with it. It may be targeted at teenage readers, but anyone can read it, as they did worldwide, and I see no reason why it'd be any different in Arabic."
Mr Fadel disclosed that he was attempting to bring Ms Meyer to the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair of March 2010, where the new Arabic series will be exhibited, to sign books and greet fans.
"It would be such a big push for the Arabic version," said Mr Fadel.
She has a very busy schedule, but we're trying to convince her and we're keeping our fingers crossed. If she were to come to the UAE, she could do wonders for the Arabic version of this very popular series."
hkhalaf@thenational.ae
Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs
Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km
Price: Dh235,000
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
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Palestine and Israel - live updates
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2019 Cadillac XT4
Price, base: Dh145,000
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine
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Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
MATCH INFO
Karnatake Tuskers 114-1 (10 ovs)
Charles 57, Amla 47
Bangla Tigers 117-5 (8.5 ovs)
Fletcher 40, Moores 28 no, Lamichhane 2-9
Bangla Tiger win by five wickets
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
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The view from The National
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
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On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
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Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
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Jetour T1 specs
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The biog
From: Ras Al Khaimah
Age: 50
Profession: Electronic engineer, worked with Etisalat for the past 20 years
Hobbies: 'Anything that involves exploration, hunting, fishing, mountaineering, the sea, hiking, scuba diving, and adventure sports'
Favourite quote: 'Life is so simple, enjoy it'
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
HEADLINE HERE
- I would recommend writing out the text in the body
- And then copy into this box
- It can be as long as you link
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The past Palme d'Or winners
2018 Shoplifters, Hirokazu Kore-eda
2017 The Square, Ruben Ostlund
2016 I, Daniel Blake, Ken Loach
2015 Dheepan, Jacques Audiard
2014 Winter Sleep (Kış Uykusu), Nuri Bilge Ceylan
2013 Blue is the Warmest Colour (La Vie d'Adèle: Chapitres 1 et 2), Abdellatif Kechiche, Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux
2012 Amour, Michael Haneke
2011 The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick
2010 Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Lung Bunmi Raluek Chat), Apichatpong Weerasethakul
2009 The White Ribbon (Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte), Michael Haneke
2008 The Class (Entre les murs), Laurent Cantet
Pros%20and%20cons%20of%20BNPL
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPros%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EEasy%20to%20use%20and%20require%20less%20rigorous%20credit%20checks%20than%20traditional%20credit%20options%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EOffers%20the%20ability%20to%20spread%20the%20cost%20of%20purchases%20over%20time%2C%20often%20interest-free%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EConvenient%20and%20can%20be%20integrated%20directly%20into%20the%20checkout%20process%2C%20useful%20for%20online%20shopping%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHelps%20facilitate%20cash%20flow%20planning%20when%20used%20wisely%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECons%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20ease%20of%20making%20purchases%20can%20lead%20to%20overspending%20and%20accumulation%20of%20debt%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMissing%20payments%20can%20result%20in%20hefty%20fees%20and%2C%20in%20some%20cases%2C%20high%20interest%20rates%20after%20an%20initial%20interest-free%20period%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EFailure%20to%20make%20payments%20can%20impact%20credit%20score%20negatively%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERefunds%20can%20be%20complicated%20and%20delayed%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ECourtesy%3A%20Carol%20Glynn%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Brescia 1 (Skrinia og, 76)
Inter Milan 2 (Martinez 33, Lukaku 63)
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Scores
Wales 74-24 Tonga
England 35-15 Japan
Italy 7-26 Australia
Company%20profile
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Scorecard
Scotland 220
K Coetzer 95, J Siddique 3-49, R Mustafa 3-35
UAE 224-3 in 43,5 overs
C Suri 67, B Hameed 63 not out
Also on December 7 to 9, the third edition of the Gulf Car Festival (www.gulfcarfestival.com) will take over Dubai Festival City Mall, a new venue for the event. Last year's festival brought together about 900 cars worth more than Dh300 million from across the Emirates and wider Gulf region – and that first figure is set to swell by several hundred this time around, with between 1,000 and 1,200 cars expected. The first day is themed around American muscle; the second centres on supercars, exotics, European cars and classics; and the final day will major in JDM (Japanese domestic market) cars, tuned vehicles and trucks. Individuals and car clubs can register their vehicles, although the festival isn’t all static displays, with stunt drifting, a rev battle, car pulls and a burnout competition.
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
More on Quran memorisation:
Stage 5 results
1 Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 3:48:53
2 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team -
3 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott -
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:00:04
5 Ilnur Zakarin (RUS) CCC Team 0:00:07
General Classification:
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 20:35:04
2 Tadej Pogacar (SlO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:01
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 0:01:33
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:48
5 Rafał Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:02:11
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
