Shihab Ghanem

شہاب غانم

Dr. Shihab M. Ghanem is a renowned Emirati poet, translator, engineer, and economist whose work bridges the worlds of literature and science. With over six decades of experience, he has left a lasting impact both in the fields of industrial development and Arabic poetry.

Born in Aden and educated in the UK and India, Dr. Ghanem holds degrees in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from Aberdeen, a Master’s in Water Resources from Roorkee University, and a Ph.D. in Economics from Cardiff. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate in Literature by Soka University, Japan.

Professionally, he has held key leadership roles across the Middle East, including Chief Engineer in Lebanon, Director of Engineering for Dubai Ports and Jebel Ali Free Zone, and Managing Director of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Technology Park. He is also the founder of INDUSTEC Consulting.

Dr. Ghanem is a UK Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of both the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of Management in the UK. He has also contributed to education, serving on advisory committees for Dubai Men’s College in Engineering and Management.

In literature, Dr. Ghanem is a towering figure in contemporary Arabic poetry. He has published 60 books, including 16 poetry collections in Arabic, 2 in English, 24 volumes of poetry translations, and 19 books in prose. His 1992 book Industrialization in the UAE remains a key reference in the field.

He has served as editor and advisor for several cultural and literary magazines, including Aden College Magazine, Al-Muntada, Shuoon Adabiyah, and Al-Mishkat. He was also part of the Kalima Translation Project’s advisory board.

His literary and cultural achievements have been widely recognized with over 25 international awards, including:

  • The Tagore Peace Award (India, 2012)

  • Al Owais Creativity Awards (multiple years)

  • Cultural Personality of the Year (2013)

  • Soka Gakkai Peace & Culture Award (Japan, 2012)

  • Kerala Sahitya Akademi Honour (India, 2010 & 2014)

  • Sharjah Government Book Award (2003, 2007)

  • And many others from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, and Yemen.

Dr. Ghanem has been featured in several prestigious biographical directories such as Who's Who in the World, International Who’s Who of Intellectuals, and UAE Poets Encyclopedia.

Today, he is celebrated not just as a poet but as a cultural bridge-builder, known for his unique ability to connect languages, ideas, and civilizations through both verse and vision.