Abu Dhabi International Book Fair

The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is an annual book and publishing event held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The event is held under the patronage of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and organized by KITAB, a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage and the Frankfurt Book Fair.

The event was founded in 1981 by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the Islamic Book Fair. Five years later, it was renamed the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Over the years, it has become a major platform where publishers, literary agents, booksellers and cultural organizations can meet, network and exchange new ideas. One of the main goals of the fair is to transform the city of Abu Dhabi into one of the most influential centers in the publishing world.

Held in the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair lasts for seven days. The event features over 1,000 publishing houses from several dozen countries, attracting more than 250,000 visitors. It aims to bring together local and international publishing communities. Providing access to publishers in the Middle East and North Africa region, it is the place to negotiate and sell publishing and translation rights.

Along with an impressive book expo divided into several sections, the fair offers a rich and diverse program packed with activities designed for both book lovers and industry professionals. They include book presentations, meetings with authors and illustrators, public readings, and more. The program of the fair is divided into four main sections: Cultural Program, Professional Program, Show Kitchen Program, and Creativity Corner for children.

Each edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair features the Guest of Honor, a country or region whose literary heritage and publishing industry are heavily featured in the programming. The Guest of Honor has a pavilion where it showcases its literature, music, cinema, and cuisine as well as hosts meetings with distinguished authors and intellectuals.

Another tradition of the fair is choosing the Personality of the Year. The Personality of the Year is an influential Arabic or international figure that has made a significant contribution to culture and human development. A part of the fair’s parallel cultural program revolves around this person and their accomplishments.