The thirty-second edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair kicked off today, organized by the Abu Dhabi Center for Arabic Language, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism, with the participation of more than 1,300 publishers from around 85 countries. This year's fair carries the slogan "Endless Stories" and features a program extending until May 28 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, which includes over 2,000 cultural, literary, and artistic events.
The fair has invited a large group of thinkers, writers, and intellectuals to enrich its cultural program, including Kuwaiti Saud Al-Sanousi, Iraqi Azhar Jadrjies, Bahraini Qasim Haddad, Jordanian Jalal Bargis, Tunisian Jalila Al-Tarrat, Lebanese Abdo Wazen, Syrian Firas Al-Sawah, Libyan Mohammed Al-Nuass, and Egyptian Miral Al-Tahawy. Additionally, the fair will celebrate the winners of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award in its seventeenth session with a literary session where the winners will speak about their works.
Turkey is the "Guest of Honor" at the fair, which also pays tribute to the sociologist, philosopher, and prominent historian Ibn Khaldun as the "central figure" for this edition. The fair highlights the concept of sustainability in line with the UAE's declaration of 2023 as the Year of Sustainability, hosting various initiatives and seminars aimed at showcasing the best global practices to support sustainability in publishing, alongside discussions on climate change.
Ali bin Tamim, head of the Abu Dhabi Center for Arabic Language, stated that this edition is the largest in the fair's history in terms of the area, number of exhibitors and publishers, and the number of cultural venues hosting events.
Concurrent with the fair, the International Conference on Arab Publishing and Creative Industries is being held, which aims to open communication channels between publishing entities, content creators, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs. Last night, the announcement ceremony for the winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in its sixteenth edition took place, awarded to Omani Zahraan Al-Qasimi for his novel "Tigraba Al-Qafir," published by Rashm Publishing House in Saudi Arabia.
