Page 96 - MBRF PR REPORT - JUNE 2025

6/18/25, 10:15 AM Abu Dhabi International Book Fair welcomed 400,000 visitors in first 10-day edition
Held at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi under the theme ‘Knowledge Illuminates Our Community’, the event reflected the ambitious
vision to position Abu Dhabi as a global hub for culture, publishing, and knowledge. The fair also reinforced its own standing as one
of the most prominent local and regional cultural events, recording a 65% increase in sales compared to the previous year
indicating its success in promoting reading and supporting the publishing industry.

With 1,400 exhibitors from 96 countries speaking more than 60 languages, the fair attracted a wide audience of all ages and
community groups. This aligns with the UAE leadership’s declaration of 2025 as the ‘Year of Community’, asserting Abu Dhabi’s
status as a thriving centre for civilisational, cultural, and intellectual exchange.

His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, said: “The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is a significant platform for
knowledge sharing and creativity. This year’s edition charted a roadmap for the future with a scientific approach, and presented a
comprehensive cultural vision. The 34th edition offered a programme focused on dialogue and critical thinking, addressing
contemporary global issues such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, sustainability, environmental protection, and
heritage preservation.”

The 34th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair stood out for its organisation, international participation, public engagement, and the
calibre of its speakers, including renowned intellectuals, academics, writers, and artists. The Fair attracted more than 450 speakers
and participants, including notable figures such as Iraqi-born former British politician H.E. Nadhim Zahawi; integrative medicine
pioneer Dr. Deepak Chopra; novelist Conn Iggulden; actors Hussein Fahmy and Mena Massoud; jewellery designer Azza Fahmy;
and author Khaled Ghattas, drawing large and passionate audiences.

The fair’s comprehensive programme and high-quality initiatives also achieved great success. For example, the On the Path of
Knowledge initiative brought speakers to schools and universities, increasing student engagement and participation in the fair
while raising a new generation of avid readers and knowledge enthusiasts. Student participation notably increased from the 2024
edition, with a total of 3,562 students participating and 14,674 students benefiting from associated activities across 25 public and
private schools. These activities were overseen by 203 educators and supervisors, which resulted in over 18,000 total participants.

The first-of-its-kind Author-Publisher initiative formed part of the fair’s vision to support the social role of culture by targeting
creative authors. Meanwhile, the 100 Stories from Our Community initiative showcases creative talent among UAE residents as
part of the broader Community Campaign to Promote Sustainable Reading, launched by the ALC earlier this year.

Another highlight of the fair was the Al-Mutanabbi Street, one of Baghdad's most famous cultural thoroughfares and a symbol of
Iraq's literary and intellectual life. It featured 2,000 books and a collection of vintage newspapers.

The fair also hosted the inaugural edition of the Arab Publishing Pioneers initiative, which honoured six Arab publishing houses with
illustrious legacies, the oldest being nearly 160 years old.

While the Guest of Honour programme spotlighting Caribbean culture was met with significant interest from the multinational
audience, the Focus Personality (Ibn Sina) and Book of the World (‘One Thousand and One Nights’) programmes delivered
immersive experiences and fresh insights into the legacy of the famed philosopher and the iconic work.

The agenda also included the Poetry Nights Majlis, which hosted over 60 stars of Nabati and classical poetry, reflecting the prestige
of Arabic poetry and the success of the programme. Meanwhile, the Creative Arts programme featured music and photography,
among other things, as well as culinary arts as part of the World’s Cuisine programme, which featured 48 sessions with 24 celebrity
chefs, including 12 Emiratis.

The fair’s Professional programme introduced a new strategy, unprecedented in the region, to empower publishers and creatives to
navigate the challenges of the evolving global publishing landscape and embrace the technological and digital breakthroughs that
are reshaping the entire industry. The programme’s workshops attracted significant attendance from all age groups.

Also on the agenda was the Digitising Creativity conference, which explored the impact of digitisation on publishing and the
creative industries. This event was held in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Economy’s Intellectual Property Sector, the

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