In this article it is argued that concerpts based on cultural studies, such as domestication and foreignisation, are not fine-tuned enough and that linguistic and text theories are not broad enough to provide the necessary apparatus for the assessment of translation from Arabic with all its discursive and ideological dimensions. The author concludes that a bit of exoticism in translating from Arabic may be necessary to further strengthen the presence of Arabic literature in Western arenas besided academic/orientalist circles.