Publication showcased as the UAE participates as Country of Honour at one of the world’s leading publishing events
18 June 2026, Dubai, UAE: ELF Publishing launched Lives in Pomegranate by Emirati author Ali AlShaali at the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), where the United Arab Emirates is participating as the fair’s Country of Honour.
The launch forms part of the UAE’s cultural programme at BIBF and the Al Bait Al Emarati pavilion – overseen by the UAE Embassy in China and jointly organised with the Ministry of Culture – highlighting the country’s growing literary landscape and strengthening cultural exchange between the UAE, China, and the wider international publishing community.
Lives in Pomegranate is a collection of eleven short stories that meet at the intersection of the present and the future to explore identity, survival, and loss. The book was originally published in Arabic and has now been translated into English by Antonio Santi. Advance readers praise the book for its engaging stories, diverse characters, and masterful treatment of emotions that make it universal.
During a visit to the Al Bait Al Emarati pavilion, His Excellency Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture, was presented with the English-language edition of Lives in Pomegranate and briefed on the publication as part of the UAE’s literary showcase at the fair.
Ali AlShaali is an Emirati poet, novelist, publisher, and a prominent voice in contemporary Emirati literature. He has published five poetry collections, two novels, and a book of cultural essays. Later this year, he will represent the UAE at the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, where he will speak about his body of work and his contribution to the region’s literary landscape.
Ahlam Bolooki, Managing Director of ELF Publishing, said: “We are very proud to launch the English translation of Ali AlShaali’s book at the Beijing International Book Fair. Ali’s collection is a reflection of today’s interconnected world: a collection penned by an Emirati man during his participation in the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program, translated into English, and launched in China. It is a small but meaningful contribution to the enduring friendship between the UAE and China, rooted in a shared tradition of storytelling and a commitment to preserving culture and heritage for future generations.”
ELF Publishing LLC is an independent publishing house based in the United Arab Emirates, launched under the umbrella of the Emirates Literature Foundation. It is committed to preserving the UAE’s rich storytelling heritage by championing previously untold stories from Emirati and UAE-based authors.
Copies of Lives in Pomegranate are available for browsing at the Silk Road Publishers Club stand throughout the Beijing International Book Fair. The book is also available for purchase on the publisher’s website www.elfpublishing.me and at all Magrudy’s branches across UAE.
ENDS