2,000 events, 1,300 participants; Abu Dhabi International Book Fair kicks off tomorrow – News

Largest edition of the book fair will offer visitors the chance to sell over 500,000 titles

The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair will close on May 28. — Wam

The 32nd edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) kicks off on Monday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC).

Under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the fair is organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Center (ALC), which is part of the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi), and the event will run until May 28.

The 2023 fair will be its largest to date, with more than 2,000 cultural, literary and artistic events. Additionally, it will host an unprecedented number of exhibitors and publishers, more than 1,300 attendees from more than 85 countries, and provide visitors with access to more than 500,000 titles. This makes the 32nd edition a major milestone in terms of diversity and volume of events, offering unique cultural, artistic and literary experiences for visitors of all ages and interests, and cementing Abu Dhabi’s position as a global cultural hub .

In addition to ADNEC, satellite programming takes place at five different cultural venues: The Cultural Foundation, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi Sorbonne University, New York University Abu Dhabi and the world’s largest floating book fair, the ship “Logos Hope”, currently docked at Mina Zayed Port, in conjunction with the events of the fair.

The Republic of Turkey, as this year’s Guest of Honor, will host a special program celebrating the country’s creative output and highlighting cultural exchanges between Turkey and the Arab world. Panel discussions and events will explore Turkish literature and poetry, literary translations of Turkish classics, and the country’s rich culinary traditions, sessions will include game-changing women, children’s philosophy, and Turkish culinary culture, with prominent authors including Beşir Ayvazoğlu and Mehmet Hakkı in attendance at Suçin. A dedicated Turkish Pavilion will welcome publishers and partners from the region, including the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey and the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce.

The “person in focus” of this year’s fair is the 14th-century Arab philosopher Ibn Khaldun, widely considered the father of social science. The program will feature conferences and seminars focused on the work and legacy of Ibn Khaldun, including discussions of history, philosophy and literature. Speakers will include a variety of critics and scholars such as Tunisian historian and archaeologist Dr. Ibrahim Shabouh, known for his research on the work of Ibn Khaldun; philosopher Ahmed Barkawi; and British author Antonisa Ting.

The theme of ADIBF 2023 is ‘Sustainability’, which coincides with the UAE declaring 2023 as the Year of Sustainable Development to mark the country’s annual COP28 climate change conference this November. The show’s program will include thought-provoking activities aimed at promoting a comprehensive understanding of sustainability in areas as diverse as climate change and food security – especially among young people. A panel discussion will explore ways to make publishing more sustainable and discuss the role of museums in advancing public understanding of sustainability.

During the week-long exhibition, visitors will take part in more than 2,000 events covering a range of cultural and creative fields. The cultural program’s more than 130 sessions include a diverse range of discussions, workshops and literary and cultural events, with more than 800 guests and speakers, ranging from critics, authors, academics to leading figures from various cultural and creative fields person.

These will be held in conjunction with 46 sessions in the Professional programme, which will highlight prominent areas of the publishing industry such as marketing, translation, partnerships and content creation.

For film buffs, the expo will screen films as part of its “Black Box Cinema” event. Additionally, this year’s edition will feature “Podcast Abu Dhabi” for the first time, giving viewers the chance to meet podcast industry stars from the Arab world while episodes are recorded live.

Artist Ali El Haggar will give a special concert at the Cultural Foundation on Saturday, May 27th at 8pm. The concert will pay tribute to the late Egyptian poet Abdul Rahman al-Abnoudi, who will perform a series of songs that brought them together.

Young trade fair visitors will have the opportunity to experience more than 1,800 informative and entertaining activities tailored especially for children and young people. This includes the brand new Alpha Corner, which will enrich visitors’ knowledge of space and science in general through interactive activities, foster cultural engagement and develop creative skills for generations to come.

In conjunction with the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, the 2nd International Arab Publishing and Creative Industries Conference will continue for a second day at ADNEC on Monday. Under the theme “Adapting Stories”, this year’s conference brought together publishers, translators, content creators and entrepreneurs from the region and around the world. During the two-day conference, attendees can explore the latest trends in the publishing and creative industries through sessions, discussions and workshops. This builds on the success of the event’s inaugural edition, which attracted more than 380 attendees and showcased 35 speakers from a variety of creative fields, including publishing, film, visual broadcasting, digital gaming and social media platforms.