News - United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria

Prof. Simeon Evstatiev, Head of the Department of Arabic and Semitic Studies at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, and Associate Professor Galina Evstatieva, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology, took part in the 3rd International Conference on Arabic Studies in Europe (Sharjah, 8–9 November 2025).

The conference was organized by the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah under the personal patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qassimi, Ruler of Sharjah and a member of the Supreme Council of the UAE. At his invitation, on 8 and 9 November 2025 the Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi Center hosted 24 scholars from 18 European countries specializing in Arabic language, Middle Eastern history, and culture.

Alongside the Bulgarian representatives, the 3rd International Conference on Arab Studies in Europe brought together leading Arabists from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Estonia, Spain, Italy, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Serbia, Ukraine, France, the Czech Republic, and Sweden. The discussions examined the development of various European schools of Arabic Studies, the teaching of Arabic language and culture across Europe, as well as topics related to translation from Arabic into European languages.

Prof. Simeon Evstatiev delivered a paper exploring the emergence and development of the Bulgarian school of Arabic, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies. He highlighted the contributions of key figures in Bulgaria’s Oriental Studies, including Ivan Dimitrov Kimryanov (1883–1913) and Aleksandar Yonkov Shishmanov (1889–1949).

In her paper, Ass. Prof. Galina Evstatieva presented and analyzed translations of literary works from Arabic into Bulgarian. She outlined the major stages in the increasing interest among Bulgarian Arabists, over recent decades, in translating key works by classical and modern Arab authors.

After their visit to Sharjah, the academics from Sofia University traveled to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where they met with the Bulgarian Ambassador Ivan Jordanov. The meeting focused on cultural and academic relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the UAE and examined opportunities for collaboration between the Department of Arabic and Semitic Studies, Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology, and UAE institutions. The discussions also explored possibilities for internships for students enrolled in the Arabic Studies Program and the Master’s Program “Middle East Studies with Arabic” in UAE.