Abu Dhabi International Book Fair: Celebrating decades of cultural, knowledge innovation

Al Etihad

26-04-2025

26 Apr 2025 15:09
ABU DHABI (WAM) With the opening of its 34th edition today, the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair has successfully reinforced its status as a leading cultural and intellectual destination. Over the decades, it has firmly established the concept of knowledge and cultural sustainability, while promoting the Arabic language's presence within the creative and cultural industries both locally, regionally, and globally.The Fair's journey began in 1981 when the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan inaugurated the first edition under the name "Islamic Book Fair' at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, with the participation of 50 publishers.In 1986, the first official edition of the Abu Dhabi Book Fair was launched, again at the Cultural Foundation, featuring 70 publishers. The momentum grew in the 1988 edition, with 80 publishers from 10 Arab countries participating.By 1993, the event had evolved into an annual fixture, attracting an increasing number of local, regional, and international publishing houses.Entering the new millennium, the 2001 edition attracted around 514 publishing houses, marked by the notable presence of cultural leaders and intellectuals.The 2009 edition witnessed the launch of "The Arab E-Library" and attracted 637 publishers from 52 countries. France was the Guest of Honour for the first time in 2011.In 2014, the fair introduced Al Mutanabbi as the Fair's inaugural 'literary figure of honour', with participation from 1,050 exhibitors.In 2015, the fair celebrated its Silver Jubilee, honouring the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as pivotal personality of the Year, with 1,181 publishers from 63 countries participating.The fair again celebrated Sheikh Zayed in the 2018 edition, coinciding with the Year of Zayed, welcoming 1,350 exhibitors from 63 countries, with Poland selected as the Guest of Honour.In 2019, India was the Guest of Honour, and for the first time, the 'One Million Tolerant Document' initiative was launched, in line with the UAE's Year of Tolerance.The most recent edition saw 1,350 exhibitors from 90 countries under the theme "Where the World's Tales Unfold'. It also welcomed 145 new publishers and participants from 12 countries, including Greece, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Pakistan, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Mozambique, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Indonesia.In an unprecedented move, the current 34th edition (April 26 – May 5, 2025) extends the exhibition period to 10 days for the first time. This aims to encourage innovation within the publishing sector, enhance cultural dialogue, and provide greater support to local and Arab authors by offering more opportunities for networking with international publishers.The 2025 edition celebrates the Culture of the Caribbean as Guest of Honour, reflecting the UAE's commitment to cultural dialogue. The fair also spotlights Ibn Sina (Avicenna) as the central figure, and features a special tribute to "One Thousand and One Nights" within its rich programming.This year's edition features participation from over 1,400 exhibitors from 96 countries, speaking more than 60 languages. Impressively, 120 exhibitors are participating for the first time, marking an 18% growth.
Moreover, the fair welcomes publishers from 20 new countries across four continents, speaking more than 25 languages. It hosts 28 international pavilions, 87 local and international government entities, 13 author-publishers, 15 universities, and 8 initiatives dedicated to supporting the publishing industry.