Dubai:  February 2023: During an exceptional donation ceremony at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the United States Mission to the UAE presented the Mohammed bin Rashid Library with a 1764 edition of an English-language translation of the Quran, which will be permanently displayed in the library's Treasures of the Library exhibition. The event was organised by the Emirates Literature Foundation in collaboration with the United States Mission to the UAE and the Mohammed bin Rashid Library. 

The rare two-volume set is a copy from the second edition of the 1764 English language translation of the Quran by English author George Sale. Third U.S. President Thomas Jefferson owned a copy from the same 1764 edition, which was displayed at the USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai on loan from the U.S. Library of Congress. This was the first time this treasured exhibit travelled outside of the U.S. Capitol, and it was one of the top attractions at the USA Pavilion. While studying law in 1765, Thomas Jefferson, who had a lifelong interest in world religions, bought this version at the age of 22. Following the return of the Thomas Jefferson-owned Quran to the U.S. Library of Congress, the same rare edition Quran translation, which the U.S. Mission to the UAE donated today to the MBR Library, was acquired to continue the exhibition at the USA Pavilion.

"We are here today to celebrate the values that shape the United Arab Emirates, tolerance, peace, and harmony; and to witness history being made as this rare edition of the Holy Quran is transferred for the first time since the 18th century to be permanently displayed at the Mohammed bin Rashid library, the region's largest cultural centre," Isobel Abulhoul, CEO and Trustee of Emirates Literature Foundation said. "We are delighted and honoured to work with the U.S. Mission to the UAE and the Mohammed bin Rashid Library to support the UAE's mission of preserving Islamic and Arabic heritage and reinforcing its position in society and the world."

This rare edition will be permanently displayed at the library's Treasures of the Library exhibition which features a unique collection of rare and ancient books, atlases, and manuscripts from around the world. 

Welcoming the delegation, H.E. Mohammad Ahmad Al Murr, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, said: "I am pleased to welcome you to the Mohammed bin Rashid Library, and specifically to the Treasures of the Library Exhibition which houses rare collections dating back to the thirteenth century,"

The Treasures of The Library Exhibition features unique religious manuscripts, Antique atlases, poetry collections, and other valuable items. The collection also includes rare copies of the Holy Quran, early print editions of literary classics, Latin translations of scholarly works from the Islamic Golden Age, and rare Arabic periodicals from the Arab world and beyond." H.E added. "The rare, translated copy of the Holy Quran, donated to the Mohammed bin Rashid Library, is a valuable and significant addition to the Treasures of the Library exhibition, complementing a collection of classical literature publications telling the story of decades of knowledge and civilization." H.E concluded.

H.E Al Murr thanked the United States Mission for the valuable gift of Thomas Jefferson's rare edition of the Holy Quran in the English language, which reflects the depth and strength of the strategic and cultural relations and partnerships between the two countries.

The Mohamed Bin Rashid Library is pleased to display the rare English language translation of the Quran in its Treasures of the Library exhibition. It has a special connection with Dubai as it was displayed at the USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.  This rare manuscript is from the same 1764 edition as Thomas Jefferson’s copy of the English language translation of the Quran , U.S. Representative Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to the United States Congress, took his oath of office on Jefferson's Quran in 2006 and noted it demonstrated that from the very beginning of the United States, there people who were visionary, who were religiously tolerant, who believed that knowledge and wisdom could be gleaned from any number of sources, including the Quran. 

Charge d’Affaires Sean Murphy at the U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi stated: “The U.S. Mission to the UAE is proud to gift a rare edition English-language translation of the Quran and a map of Arabia published in 1764 that were on display at the USA Pavilion during Expo 2020 Dubai to the Mohammed bin Rashid Library. This exhibit is a strong symbol of respect for religious diversity, and our shared values of religious tolerance and co-existence.” 

The donation took place on the first day of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, one of the world's top ten literary festivals. The Festival will be held at the Inter Continental Dubai Festival City and the Mohammed bin Rashid Library from 1-6 February 2023. 

Ticket prices start at AED 25. Also new this year are day-long, weekend, student and publishing day passes starting at AED 199. And an all-access Crystal Pass with exclusive entry to the Green Room. Also returning is the Festival Fringe, with a host of fun free events and performances for all the family. 

For the full programme, visit tickets.emirateslitfest.com

More information about the Emirates Literature Foundation can be found online and year-round news of #Emirates Lit Fest on  LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram YouTube and TikTok @emirateslitfest 

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Notes to editors:  

About the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature:

The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is the Arab World’s largest celebration of the written and spoken word, featuring international and regional writers, poets, thinkers and speakers from around the world. Over the last 14 years more than 1,800 authors from over one hundred countries have spoken at the Festival. In 2022 the Festival reached more than 105,000 people, in person and via live streaming. Sessions included multi-talented top children's author David Walliams, entreprenuer Gary Vaynerchuck, Indra Nooyi ranked amongst the world's 100 most powerful women executives, and Bridgerton author Julia Quinn, and the Education Programme featured children’s favourites Ali Sparkes, Rob Biddulph, Sanaa Chabbani, Gulnar Hajou and Ken Arto. 

The aim of the Festival is to develop a culture of reading as an enjoyable habit in the UAE, and its efforts have been recognised through many awards over the years. By providing an equal platform for international and locally based talents, the Festival continues to build the literary landscape in the UAE and further afield. Alongside the main programme, the Festival organises an Education programme, reaching students across the seven emirates of the UAE. There are also student competitions, held in Arabic and English, which allow young people to showcase their skills through poetry, short stories and reading.  

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Festival is a key part of the Emirates Literature Foundation, which was established in 2013 by Royal Decree. In partnership with Emirates Airline and the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated authority for heritage, arts, and culture, the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature will be back in 2023. For information and updates about the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature visit the website: www.emirateslitfest.com

About the Emirates Literature Foundation:

The Emirates Literature Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation which supports and nurtures a love of literature in the United Arab Emirates and the region, through a programme of varied cultural initiatives.  

Established in 2013 by Royal Decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Foundation aims to foster a love for literature, with a focus on the Arabic language.  

In line with the National Reading Policy of the UAE, the Foundation has implemented several long-term projects including the School Librarian of the Year Award, Kateb Maktub, and From the Inside Out, as well as conducting year-round student education programmes, book clubs and mentorship programmes. The Foundation’s previous initiatives included the 2020 International Literary Festivals Conference, the 2017 Dubai International Publishing Conference and the 2016 Dubai Translation Conference.  

The Foundation is also the governing body of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the UAE’s premier literary festival.  

About Emirates

Emirates is an award-winning international airline with a global footprint across six continents, connecting passengers and facilitating global trade to and through its modern hub, Dubai to over 120 destinations. The airline operates one of the most modern and efficient aircraft fleet comprised of spacious and comfortable Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft. With a culturally diverse workforce from over 130 nationalities, Emirates caters to its global customer base by delivering exceptional services and world-class products. The airline also supports local communities worldwide and brings people together through its vast portfolio of international sports and cultural sponsorships. 

About Dubai Culture & Arts Authority 

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is committed to enriching Dubai’s cultural scene based on the UAE’s heritage,and is building bridges of constructive dialogue between various cultures to enhance Dubai’s position as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent. 

As part of its journey to position Dubai as the global capital of the creative economy, Dubai Culture is keen on reviving and preserving the emirate's historical heritage and developing the regulatory frameworks for the cultural and creative sector in line with its strategic roadmap 2020 – 2026. 

The Authority also seeks to empower the enablers that seek to support talents and stimulate active participation from society members by investing in the various cultural and heritage assets under its remit, including the management of six heritage sites, six museums, Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children and eight Dubai Public Library branches, all of which help contribute to creating an economic system that stimulates the cultural and creative industries. 

For more information, please visit the Authority's website www.dubaiculture.gov.ae

About the U.S. Mission to the UAE 

The U.S. Mission to the UAE, which consists of the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Consulate General in Dubai, is the official representation of the U.S. Government in the United Arab Emirates, with the goal of advancing the important U.S.-UAE partnership to advance shared regional and global priorities and deepen the historic ties between the two nations.