Dr Abdul Wahid Lu’lu’a is a man of many words. His life’s journey has taken him from working as a professor of English, to becoming the Cultural Advisor to His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. 

He has written many books on the subject of Arabic culture and poetry, including translating the works of the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore into Arabic. Dr Lu’lu’a, who is originally from Iraq, has published 52 books based on translations from Arabic to English and English to Arabic in the span of 33 years. These translations focus on various subjects ranging from history, fiction, politics and poetry.

“Translating poetry is a very tedious and convoluted task. It not only demands a command of languages, but also necessitates a profound understanding of the feel and emotions of the poet. At times, it isn’t easy to decode the poetic expression. It’s a huge responsibility to do justice to the poet and bring out his exact mood, message and emotions.”

About Arabic Poetry

“Arabs are very poetic by nature. Every aspect of human emotion touches their hearts. They are close to nature and love being that way. This makes them natural poets. Love for nature and for the beloved are the basic elements of Arabic poetry. Even those who don’t write poetry still love it. This trait is not reserved for the common man alone but for those in the  royalty as well. Shaikh Zayed was a poet and Shaikh Mohammed is a great poet himself.”

On carrying out research for his book, The Role of Arabic Poetry in the Development of European Love Lyrics

“European poetry was previously confined to the praise of Jesus or Mother Mary in the early Christian calendar. The element of earthly love came with the influence of Arabic love poetry. My research is based on a lot of historical evidence, books and manuscripts from various libraries. It requires a great deal of conscientious effort and assiduous work.

“My knowledge of French, Spanish and German, along with Arabic and English, made it possible 
to conduct such extensive research. I am doing 
this so that young Arabs will be proud of their heritage and their ancestors’ contribution to the world of literature.

“Arabic literature was once restricted to the Arab world because of a lack of knowledge of other languages. The new generation must learn different languages to let the world know their prominent standing in literature.”

On Shaikh Mohammed and his book of poems Desert Winds

“The world knows Shaikh Mohammed as the ruler of Dubai who has transformed a desert into a world-renowned city.

His excellent commercial sense and powerful vision is rated as one of the best in the world.  He is not only a ruler, but also a true leader.

“There is so much fire and desire for success in his eyes, yet he has a very compassionate heart. After reading his poetry, people will understand that he rules with the heart as well the head. His poetry has all the essence of love and relationships. He expresses his pain and pleasure beautifully.”

On the English translation of Shaikh Mohammed’s biography My Vision

“My Vision is the biography of Shaikh Mohammed which is dedicated to the UAE President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This book portrays the triumphs and tribulations of a great visionary ruler.

Shaikh Mohammed has revealed the secrets behind the astounding development of the UAE and the incredible growth of this young nation, which has become one of the fastest growing countries in the world.

“My Vision is a virtual journey through Shaikh Mohammed’s mind and heart. The events and anecdotes of his life make him the king of hearts. He has an amazing sense of humour and keeps the atmosphere around him light and cheerful.”