A new Arab encyclopaedia project known as "Arabica" is underway, aiming to address a notable scarcity of reliable Arabic reference materials. The initiative seeks to serve as a comprehensive scholarly resource, enriching Arabic-language knowledge amid the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and the widespread reliance on digital information.

Dr. Azmi Bishara, general director of the Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies, outlined the project's objectives during an interview on Alaraby 2’s cultural programme Difaf. He emphasized the encyclopaedia’s role in advancing Arab society, enhancing cultural expression, and fostering intellectual development. The project is designed to provide rigorously researched, accurate content to counteract the fragmentation and uneven quality of existing Arabic sources.

After approximately three years of preparatory infrastructure work, the Arabica project aims to compile around 60,000 entries focused primarily on Arab topics, history, and societal issues that are frequently underrepresented in other encyclopaedias. A key element of the project is its effort to standardize Arabic terminology. This will involve cooperation with initiatives such as the Doha Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language, ensuring consistency and scholarly precision.

An additional goal of the initiative is to improve the quality of data accessible to AI systems, providing academically verified information that could enhance the reliability of Arabic-language content generated by artificial intelligence models. The project is supported by a steadily expanding network of researchers contributing to various fields.

The official online portal for the Arabica encyclopaedia is slated to launch in January 2027, making the comprehensive resource widely available. Dr. Bishara also highlighted Qatar’s substantial backing of intellectual development efforts in the Arab world, noting the country’s role in fostering such cultural and academic projects.