The 33rd edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair concluded its activities. 

The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair concluded yesterday its 33rd edition, which began on April 29th, organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre. 

The fair took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) under the theme “Here… the Stories of the World are Told,” attracting 1,350 exhibitors from 90 countries, including 140 first-time participating publishers, along with over 375 local exhibitors, including publishers, distributors, and governmental entities, showcasing their latest releases. 

The fair came one month after the UAE concluded its National Reading Month, one of the most important national events aimed at enhancing reading and learning skills, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him. 

Egypt was the Guest of Honor at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, with the acclaimed Egyptian Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz being the central figure of this edition. Mahfouz’s selection as the central figure of the fair included the launch of a new series of graphic novels based on his works, a roundtable discussion on his influence on new generations of Arab novelists titled “Naguib Mahfouz: Descendants and the New Novel,” and a session titled “Naguib Mahfouz on Screen” discussing his works adapted into films. 

Saood Al Tunaiji, the Director of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, stated that this year’s fair offers a diverse cultural program including sessions, seminars, and cultural and knowledge dialogues featuring a selection of writers, thinkers, and creatives from various fields. Additionally, the fair’s program, organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, includes over two thousand activities distributed across five sections: “Inspire,” “Create,” “Learn,” “Evolve,” and “Discover.” 

Among the notable activities were a session titled “UNESCO’s Role in Promoting Human Cultural Heritage in the Arab Region – The UAE as a Model,” a lecture on “The Impact of Islamic Civilization on the World” by the American academic and political analyst Roy Casagrande, and a seminar on the life and achievements of the late Kuwaiti entrepreneur Mohammed Al Sharekh. 

The fair also saw the participation of 12 countries for the first time, including Greece, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Pakistan, Cyprus, Mozambique, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Brazil.