Chartered Institute
of Linguists
Celebrating International Translation Day 2025
This year CIOL celebrated International Translation Day 2025 with APEX Group International in an innovative hybrid/face-to-face and online collaboration with Saint Joseph University Dubai and ProZ.com.
By Nancy Tahir of CIOL Corporate Partner APEX Group
This year’s International Translation Day conference turned Saint Joseph University Dubai into a vibrant crossroads where translation, culture and innovation met in an enriching celebration.
Seamless Connections
The two-day event drew an enlivening blend of translation students, professionals and academics, all connecting seamlessly, both on campus and through online platforms Zoom and RingCentral, including a hybrid program, with inspiring workshops, deep-dive presentations and interactive sessions that sparked meaningful dialogue across the profession.
Inspiring Speakers, Panels and Workshops
Dr. Nada EL Khoury, Assistant Professor in Translation Studies at Saint Joseph University Dubai opened the event. She underscored the critical importance of International Translation Day and the fundamental role translators play in ensuring reliable and trustworthy communication.
A major highlight was a panel discussion I had the good fortune to moderate with distinguished speakers, Dr. Nada El Khoury, Professor Nisrine Abiad, Dr. Nabiha Maktabi and Ms. Elsa Sarkis, diving deeply into the theme of “Translation, shaping a future you can trust”.
They explored how translators meticulously build and sustain trust in and with their work, and how trust fundamentally shapes communication across diverse cultures and disciplines. And trust also underpins business with insights from Professor Nisrine Abiad, a celebrated legal scholar, stressing the crucial role of legal translation in fueling growth major economies like the UAE.
But translation is also about creativity and expression and following this discussion, Christina Yepremian, Senior Academic Coordinator at the School of Translation Dubai, delivered an interactive workshop, during which participants explored the pitfalls of using AI in literary translation.
Keynote and Main Webinar
John Worne, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Linguists delivered a keynote, taking as his theme: ‘What is changing and what stays the same’ in the translation field as we look ahead to 2026. This presentation launched the Main Webinar, where a host of experts came together, sharing their insights.
Dr. Mohamed Amer Lecturer in Translation Studies and CIOL Chartered Member delivered an insightful presentation on the essential skills that new generations of translators and interpreters need, in order to navigate the emerging challenges of our time.
Dr. Nabiha Maktabi, Co-founder and CEO of Tanwin discussed how translation is shaping a future built on trust, emphasizing the credibility of language services and the ethical responsibilities of translators in a rapidly evolving world.
Dr. Nada El Khoury, Assistant Professor in Translation Studies – Saint Joseph University Dubai highlighted that trust is rooted in the translator’s professionalism, accountability and leadership in the AI era, toward the public, students and the professional community.
Andrea Capuselli of ProZ.com delivered a powerful session, diving into the real, everyday challenges faced by freelance translators worldwide.
Adding a wonderfully fresh dimension, Marianna Massa joined the main webinar as a special guest speaker. Selected through a joint initiative by the APEX Group International and Saint Joseph University Dubai, her participation showcased a commitment to amplifying emerging voices and bridging generations within the translation community.
Online Workshops and Networking
The momentum carried into the second day, held entirely online, featuring a series of virtual workshops and networking sessions. Participants logging in from around the globe engaged in exchanges, shared expertise and explored the latest emerging trends and innovations in translation and localization.
While some might assume that an online-only event could lack energy or "not attract much interest," the high level of engagement proved them wrong! From the opening session presented by Dr. Nada El Khoury, to the specialized legal translation expertise of Yousra Ramadan and the engaging interpretation workshop led by Heba Ezz El Din.
The energy peaked in the final, workshop presented by Dr. Mohamed Amer, where attendees weren't just listening in, they were actively practicing and exploring how the complex art of note-taking can be mastered in consecutive interpreting.
What we take away from ITD 2025
The two-day celebration stands as a testament to the spirit of International Translation Day. From the thought-provoking hybrid panels to the fully online, engaging workshops, the event powerfully highlighted a truth often forgotten: translation goes far beyond words.
Translation is a fundamental force that builds trust in the world, deepens understanding, contributes to peace, and forges vital connections across cultures. During the event Dubai became an inspiring hub for new ideas, collaboration and shared passion; a vivid reminder that the heart of translation lies in the people and the vibrant stories that bring languages to life.
Nancy Tahir is a co-founder of APEX Group and a PhD candidate in Translation Studies at Faculdade de Ciências Humanas, Universidade Católica Portuguesa. She is a multilingual legal translator, certified and sworn by the Ministry of Justice of the UAE, MCIL and MITI. Nancy is also an ISO 17100:2015 certified translator and a trainer of legal translators.
Views expressed on CIOL Voices are those of the writer and may not represent those of the wider membership or CIOL.
Filter by category
More
