From the child lit icon Pippi Longstocking or Jenan, as she’s known in Arabic to modern Nordic fiction, the publisher with a four-decades old legacy is bridging Sweden and the Arab world together, one translation at a time
Eja Embretson, publisher at Dar Al Muna: “In Sweden today, Arabic has effectively become the country’s second language after Swedish”.
Sweden Ambassador to the UAE: “Cultural interactions is a powerful tool to strengthen relationships between cultures”
Sharjah, November 11, 2025
At the ongoing 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) 2025, which is brimming with literature from around the globe, a Jordanian publisher with a distinct Swedish identity is quietly transforming how readers connect with Nordic stories.
Publisher Dar Al Muna’s stall peeks at you not just with its suave Swede ‘look-and-feel’ but also its deep-rooted Arabic connection. The publisher has brought to the book fair a treasure trove of Arabic translation of some of Sweden’s greatest literary works including stories of the ‘strongest girl in the world’, the iconic Pippi Longstocking, who turns 80 this year.
From a smallish kiosk at one of the largest book fairs in the world, they are facilitating the building of a literary bridge between the Scandinavian nation and the Arab world.
“Sharjah has been the perfect stage for us for cultural exchange,” says Eja Embretson, publisher at Dar Al Muna. “Here, readers of all ages can experience Swedish stories in Arabic. Characters like Pippi are more than icons; they’re ambassadors of friendship between Sweden and the Arab world, showing how stories can truly bridge cultures.”
Founded in 1984 by Mona Henning Zureikat, the Swedish‑based Arabic‑language publisher has for decades brought Swedish children’s classics and adult Nordic fiction to Arabic readers. “We publish Swedish and Scandinavian literature in Arabic because culture travels with stories,” says Embretson. “What we bring may start in Sweden, but it ends here in Arabic‑speaking children’s hands, and in libraries across the region.”
The cultural context is striking: in Sweden today, Arabic has effectively become the country’s second language after Swedish, an outcome of migration patterns and changing demographics. This creates a unique audience on both sides of the bridge: Arabic‑speaking families in Sweden as well as Arabic‑language readers in the Gulf and wider Arab world.
“Also, on a global platform like this, which boasts participation of the widest variety of industry players,” Embretson further explains, “we don’t just sell books. We meet booksellers, schools, librarians from the Arab world and readers whose lives are touched by these translations. That connection is the heartbeat of our mission.”
As Sweden and the UAE deepen diplomatic, educational and cultural ties with official support from Sweden’s embassy and the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) alike – Dar Al Muna’s work offers a tangible example of literary connection.
“SIBF brings the whole world together,” says the Swedish Ambassador to the UAE, Fredrik Floren, while commenting on the cultural exchange between Sweden and the UAE. “Our countries have many similarities. We are each home to roughly 10 million people with rich international backgrounds, and have traditions of nurturing great storytellers. As you may know, Sweden’s most widely recognised literary export is the beloved collection of children’s books by Astrid Lindgren, with 200 million copies sold worldwide. Astrid Lindgren was an avid reader of Arabic literature, including A Thousand and One Nights, which inspired her to write Mio, My Son.”
Floren further adds: “The Arabic literary market is fascinating, and I believe that cultural interaction is perhaps the most powerful tool for strengthening relationships between people as it knows no borders.”
This year at SIBF, among Dar Al Muna’s new titles are ten freshly translated works, extending their catalogue of Nordic childhood favourites and adult fiction alike, serving a reminder that stories often cross languages, cultures and continents.
Sharjah International Book Fair 2025 is a 12-day event, organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) under the theme ‘Between You and a Book’. Visitors will get the opportunity to experience more than 300 cultural events led by 158 Arab and international guests, 750+ workshops in Arabic and English covering writing, editing, publishing, and creativity and 85 stage performances from 12 countries.
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