The symposium takes place from 27–29 September 2026 at IARS in Cairo and is structured over two full days. It features a mix of formats, including Lectures, Project Showcases (both offered in hybrid format), and focused smaller Workshops (in-presence only). Some sessions will be conducted in Arabic and others in English, and discussions will combine both languages.

Digitizing Arabic handwritten texts, particularly historical manuscripts, is crucial for preserving cultural heritage, enhancing accessibility, and developing new research methods. The consonantal nature of the Arabic script, along with the particular challenges of manuscript hands, variability in calligraphic styles, and document degradation over time, pose significant challenges for handwritten text recognition (HTR) systems. These systems improve constantly, and digitization is essential not only for preserving fragile documents but also for making them accessible to a broader audience and preventing the loss of valuable historical and cultural information.

Digitization also allows for the creation of digital surrogates that can be easily shared and accessed globally, overcoming geographical barriers and reducing the need for physical handling of delicate originals. Once the content is available in digital form and readable through handwritten text recognition, it opens new avenues of research not only for individual specimens but also for large manuscript corpora.

The programme is attached in English and Arabic.

A livestream of the event will be available online, further information for registration will follow soon.