Has the Arab world suddenly discovered that design events are cool? It’s about time! Well, I am really happy to report about Kitabat, a conference on Arabic calligraphy and typography.

The Visual Communication Department at the American University in Dubai, in partnership with Linotype Library GmBH and Stichting Khatt (Center for Arabic Typography), and in collaboration with the Association Typographique Internationale (ATypI) will be hosting Kitabat, the first major Calligraphic and Typographic conference in the region, between the 5th and 8th of April, 2006.

The aim of this conference is to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western cultures, and lead to a two-way cultural exchange. It also seeks to enhance the dialogue between calligraphy and typography.

Interesting stuff!!

More details here.