Emilio García Gómez, considered the master of modern Spanish Arabists, was born in Madrid on the 14th June 1905. After obtaining his first degree in Madrid, he studied for his PhD at the universities of Cairo and Baghdad and went on to become, as of 1932, the first director of the Granada School of Arabic Studies. He has also run the Arabic literary research journal, "Al andalus".

García Gómez is a titular professor of Arabic Language and Literature at the Complutense University of Madrid and director of the Miguel Asín Institute of the Higher Council for Scientific Research. His many published works include editions, translations and studies of Arabic literature.

In 1930, he published his book "Poesías árabe-andaluzas" (Arabic-Andalusian Poems), a study of Muslim poetry, which won him international recognition as one of the highest authorities on the subject. As a translator, he was probably the first person to produce a Spanish version of three masterpieces: "El collar de la paloma" (The Collar of the Dove), the complete works of Ben Guzmán and "El filósofo autodidacta" (The Self-Taught Philosopher). Other works of García Gómez include "El libro de las banderas de los campeones" (The Book of Champion´s Banners), the romance "Jarchas" and "Foco de antigua luz sobre la Alhambra"(Beam of Ancient Light on the Alhambra).

In 1958 in Paris he was chairman of the UNESCO Consultant Committee for the East/West Major Project. That year he was appointed as Spanish ambassador to Baghdad, subsequently continuing his diplomatic career in Beirut and Ankara. He is advisor on Arab affairs and a member of the official entourage of Arab heads of State on their visits to Spain.

García Gómez is a numerary member of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Royal Spanish Academy of History, and the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language. He has been named Doctor honoris causa by several European and Arab universities. He has also been awarded the French Legion of Honour and numerous other awards and prizes, including the International "Menéndez Pelayo" International Award (1988) and the National History Prize (1989).