The United Arab Emirates University Held the International Conference Reimagining Translation and Literary Studies in the Age of Digital Humanities, AI, and Gamified Narratives

Translation Between Algorithms and Humans: New Visions for the Digital Future

On February 9–10, 2026, the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) held the international conference titled “Reimagining Translation and Literary Studies in the Age of Digital Humanities, AI, and Gamified Narratives.” The conference was organized by the Department of Languages and Literature at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. It brought together academics, experts, scholars in translation and literature, as well as representatives of government entities, cultural institutions, and international organizations from around the world. The two-day conference took place at the UAEU Library Auditorium, Crescent Building, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain.

During his welcome speech, H.E. Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Advisor to the UAE President and Chancellor of UAEU, welcomed the guests and participants, stating: “We meet in a country that is home to more than two hundred nationalities. This diversity reflects the vision of our founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who built a nation rooted in its Arab and Islamic identity and open to the world. Under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, our country advances as a global center for innovation, culture, and exchange grounded in tolerance and coexistence.”

His Excellency added: “For more than forty years, I served as interpreter for Sheikh Zayed. In that role, I came to understand that translation is a public responsibility. It is not simply about finding equivalent words; it is about conveying a message accurately and fairly, with the right tone, so that trust can grow rather than fracture. It is often the difference between a meeting that builds a relationship and one that ends in misunderstanding.”

He emphasized that the conference provides an opportunity to cross boundaries between disciplines, languages, generations, levels of experience, and nationalities. “Let the literary critic speak with the technologist. Let the translator challenge the AI specialist. Let the scholar of classical Arabic poetry converse with the researcher of digital platforms. In this way, the ‘reimagining’ of your conference becomes a shared practice that shapes the work of researchers, students, and developers.”

The conference also featured a keynote address by H.E. Dr. Ali Bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre. Among the distinguished international participants was H.E. Dr. Mariagrazia Squicciarini, Chief of the Executive Office of the Social and Human Sciences Sector at UNESCO, alongside officials and experts from UNESCO.

The panel discussions and sessions highlighted several central themes, including authenticity in cross-cultural communication in the age of AI; the challenges of preserving linguistic and cultural identity in a cross-border digital environment; the use of AI tools in analyzing and teaching literary texts; and the ethical perspectives surrounding AI-powered translation and smart language applications.

Alongside the conference, a two-day interactive exhibition was held at Founder Sheikh Zayed’s Hall, where student projects were showcased in the fields of translation, literary studies, and digital media in several languages. The exhibition also featured booths representing student clubs within the Department of Languages and Literature, including the Chinese Club, Korean Club, French Club, Spanish Club, German Club, the Translation Club, and the English Literature Club.

National and international cultural and research institutions participated in the conference, including the Emirates Literature Foundation, Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and its initiatives, The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), the National Library and Archives, Consort XPR, the Coursera global platform, TRENDS Research and Advisory, and Abu Dhabi Gaming. These institutions presented initiatives supporting translation, literature, and digital innovation.

During the conference, a book-signing event was held to launch newly translated works in collaboration with the “Kalima” Project under the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre. Translators from the Department of Translation Studies participated in this initiative, reflecting the university’s commitment to empowering students, engaging them in knowledge production, and leveraging academic expertise in service of the community.