02 April، 2026
To mark the centenary of the founding of the modern Iraqi state, the Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue (RCD) has completed the translation and publication of the authoritative biography, Faisal I of Iraq. Originally published by Yale University Press, the work is authored by the distinguished scholar and statesman Ali A. Allawi.

The book meticulously traces the life of King Faisal I from 1883 to 1933, providing a rigorous chronological account of the events that shaped his reign and the birth of a nation. It covers his influence across the Arabian Peninsula, Syria, and Iraq, examining his achievements at local, regional, and international levels.

Across four sprawling parts and 24 chapters, the narrative follows the founding king from his birth in 1883 through the turbulent birth of a nation, ending with his death in 1933. Translated by the team of Simon Akram Al-Abbas and Ghaith Yousef Mahfoudh—and overseen by Dr. Miqdam Abdul-Hassan Al-Fayadh—the text peels back the curtain on:

·        Institutional Foundations: The complexities behind the formation of Iraq’s administrative and political institutions in the early 20th century.

·        Global Diplomacy: Iraq’s evolving relationships with neighboring Arab states, Europe, the United States, and the League of Nations.

·        Social & Cultural Landscapes: An analytical narrative of Iraqi public life, including the cultural and developmental movements of the era.

The significance of this work lies in its documentation of the very administrative and political frameworks whose legacy remains central to contemporary Iraq. By making this scholarly masterpiece available in Arabic, RCD provides an indispensable resource for researchers and readers seeking to understand the roots of the Iraqi state a century after its inception.