On Friday 5 March the Fair will open from 4pm – 10pm and on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 March the Fair will open from 9am – 10pm inclusive.
Reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s aim to become the region’s publishing hub, publishers, authors, librarians and literary agents from more than 60 countries will ensure that ADIBF is a truly international occasion, buzzing with a blend of the world’s literary cultures and business trends.
His Excellency Mr. Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Director General of Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, said: “For four years, which is the lifespan of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair has carried with it many promises and hopes. Over the past few years it has witnessed an increase in the number of publishers who attend the Fair and in the amount of participants representing Arabic and foreign countries in the programmes of events which accompany the exhibition. Today the Fair has reached its twentieth session. Once again this illustrates how the Fair’s magnificent new achievements are continually surpassing those of previous years.”
“From 2007 up to the current session, the number of publishing houses participating has increased. Today it has reached a total of more than 800 publishing houses. The number of participating countries has increased by nearly 400% and comprises more than 60 countries, both Arab and foreign. Holding the annual Fair in Abu Dhabi promotes the ever increasing reputation of this city as a centre of culture and science that is keen to deepen thinking and support cultural events in all their forms,” he added.
“ADIBF is unlike any other fair. It is the true gateway for publishing sector’s emerging markets in the Arab World to showcase their talent and work to an international audience and for the international industry to see what our region has to offer. Beyond this, it is a platform to reach out to the 300 million potential readers of the Arab world and show them the value of reading,” said His Excellency Mr. Jumaa Al Qubaisi, Director of Abu Dhabi International Book Fair and the National Library (ADACH).
The ADIBF professional programme is themed around the ‘Focus on Rights’ and will offer a range of seminars, workshops and networking events for visiting publishing professionals, including ‘How to do business in the Gulf Region’, ‘Matchmaking for agents, scouts and Arab publishers’ and ‘Arabs and the freedom of publishing’. For the second year running the ‘Spotlight on Rights’ initiative will offer a subsidy to rights deals signed at the fair in the newly expanded Business and Rights Centre. The new Rights Showcase for Arabic Literature will enable Arab publishers to showcase their best work. While the new eZone will highlight the opportunities of the digital world. ADACH and KITAB will also co-host the 7th IPA Copyright Symposium Abu Dhabi 2010 immediately prior to the ADIBF (28 February – 1 March), giving delegates an extra opportunity to network and discuss the industry’s best practice in the international arena.
Monika Krauss, General Manager of KITAB, said: “KITAB has two aims. First, to expand opportunities for the region’s publishing industry and second, to get more people into reading – ultimately, the two go hand in hand. A strong publishing industry relies on people to buy their books and getting people to buy books relies on an industry capable of providing what the market wants – interesting and high quality books. That’s why Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is an event that combines the best opportunities for businesses to trade and network and for consumers to access books and reading”.
Building on Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a leading hub for publishing and culture, the ADIBF will bring together some of the world’s most iconic literary talents. Highlights will include the International Prize for Arabic Fiction and the Sheikh Zayed Book Awards. Nominees of both awards will participate
in the fair alongside a world-class line up of authors, including Ahlam Mostenghami, Yann Martell, Azar Nafizi, Bapsi Sidhwa and Amit Chaudhuri.
Making a return this year is the popular Show Kitchen which will feature live cooking demonstrations and a cook book display.
For the second year, ADIBF will host a special Antiquarian Book Fair which will showcase valuable and historical books.
Co-organised by Emirates College for Advanced Education the second two-day Education Chapter featuring seminars and workshops for educators will run alongside the Fair on 3 and 4 March.
The final of the Read Aloud competition is set to draw crowds of children and their parents on Saturday 6 March, whilst the extremely popular KITAB Bus: National Mobile Library will make a scheduled stop at ADNEC for the duration of the Fair where it will be stationed INSIDE the exhibition hall.
“As well as being the biggest book store visitors can imagine ADIBF aims to make books and reading more accessible, more exciting and more fun, for people of all ages. That’s why we’re so pleased to have attracted such an acclaimed line up of authors to this year’s fair who will participate in discussion forums, the KITAB Sofa and book signings. For the first time this year, the Fair will feature a market focus day which will cast the spotlight on one of this region’s publishing communities. For the 20th ADIBF the focus will be on Algeria. The new Creativity Corner aims to trigger the imaginations of visitors of all ages, and the ‘Day in India’ will be a cultural focus to inspire the minds of visitors making this year’s event THE book fair to visit”, added Ms Krauss.
Commenting on the importance of Dolphin’s participation, Ibrahim Ahmed Al Ansari, General Manager – Dolphin Energy, UAE said: “The Fair supports Abu Dhabi’s ambitions to become a leading destination for arts and culture. Our involvement endorses those plans and complements our commitment to programmes that create cultural understanding and awareness, as well as our Corporate Social Responsibility programme. Our track record in supporting initiatives of this nature is well known.”
