Abu dhabi: The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced the publication of a landmark scholarly edition of Mu'jam al-Buldan (Dictionary of Countries), one of the most important and comprehensive geographical dictionaries in Arab-Islamic heritage.
According to Emirates News Agency, originally authored by Yaqut al-Hamawi in the 13th century, the new six-volume edition has been rigorously edited and verified, updating centuries-old geographical entries to reflect their contemporary status and bridging historical Arab-Islamic scholarship with the needs of modern researchers. It represents a defining contribution to the safeguarding and dissemination of its intellectual legacy.
Mu'jam al-Buldan stands as a key record of Arab-Islamic civilisation, spanning 15,038 geographical entries covering the Islamic world from the far reaches of Al-Andalus to the borders of China. Compiled before the Mongol fragmentation of the Islamic world and before the fall of Al-Andalus, the encyclopedia captured the breadth and richness of the Arab-Islamic world.
Beyond its geographical scope, the work serves as a multi-disciplinary encyclopaedic reference. It encompasses literary, scientific, historical, and social knowledge, making it an indispensable resource for researchers across a wide range of academic fields.
Under the scholarly editorship of Abdallah Al Sareehi, entries have been updated to reflect the modern status of every place mentioned - identifying locations that still exist, those that have disappeared, changes in place names, and precise contemporary geographical positions. This critical process ensures the work bridges centuries of scholarship with contemporary relevance, making it as valuable to today's researchers and academics as it was to scholars of the medieval Islamic world.
Abdallah Al Sareehi, Editor of Mu'jam al-Buldan and Researcher within DCT Abu Dhabi, emphasized the work's foundational role for researchers in Arab-Islamic heritage. He noted that every entry has been reviewed to identify whether a place still exists, its current name, and its location on a contemporary map, thus enhancing accessibility for modern readers.
A flagship publication by DCT Abu Dhabi, Mu'jam al-Buldan forms part of the Culture Sector's broader publications catalogue. Through landmark publications such as this, DCT Abu Dhabi ensures that the intellectual contributions of Arab-Islamic scholars are not lost to time but celebrated and made accessible to academic and cultural communities.
The publication of Mu'jam al-Buldan is the latest chapter in DCT Abu Dhabi's sustained commitment to knowledge, heritage and accessibility. The Golden Ink exhibition and the Abu Dhabi International Conference on Manuscripts have brought the artistry and scholarship of Arabic manuscripts to audiences worldwide. The collaboration with French author Gilbert Sinou© on "L'GE D'OR DE LA CIVILISATION ARABE" (The Golden Age of Arab Civilisation) has brought the story of Arab-Islamic civilisation to global readers in both French and Arabic.
Each initiative has deepened Abu Dhabi's relationship with the written word and the stories it carries. Mu'jam al-Buldan stands at the heart of this story, reflecting what happens when a city commits to preserving, studying, and passing its heritage forward.