Recently, the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation in Dubai published two poetry translations in French and English of selected poems by Sultan Al Owais, titled “Ashes of Love.” The French translation was done by translator Antoine Jouki, while the English translation was completed by Dr. Amnia Amin. These translations mark the 100th anniversary of the poet’s birth in 1925. UNESCO declared 2025 as the International Year to honor him, and the foundation prepared a rich program of cultural, intellectual, artistic, musical, and cinematic events throughout the year to celebrate this occasion. The French and English translations will be presented during an international symposium held in Paris at UNESCO headquarters on September 11 and 12, 2024, titled “Sultan Al Owais: The Journey of Poetry, The Journey of Giving,” with participation from prominent writers, orientalists, cultural figures, poets, journalists, and enthusiasts.

Thirty carefully selected poems were translated, reflecting Al Owais’s poetic space characterized by a classical style inclined towards simplicity and clarity, with great emotional and human depth. His fluent and heartfelt language allowed for an elegant and attractive translation that preserved the meaning. Dr. Amnia Amin specializes in modern literature, feminist literary theory, and criticism, holding a PhD from the University of London (1996), and has translated other poets such as Mahmoud Darwish and Ahmed Abdel-Moati Hegazy. Lebanese translator Antoine Jouki is one of the most prominent figures in translating Arabic poetry into French, with nearly 40 translated works of various Arab poets and novelists.