Literature event attracts 904 publishers from 54 countries

The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) 2012 will kick off on March 28 and will continue until April 2 in Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). The 22nd session witnesses a 10 per cent increase in participation, as it brings together more than 900 publishers from 54 countries, who will exhibit more than half a million books in 33 different languages.
The announcement came during a press conference organised yesterday by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority to present exhibition's programme that includes cultural activities with the participation of intellectuals and cultural icons among the most prominent regional and international publishing houses. The United Kingdom, this year's "Country of Focus" will promote the finest in British literature, culture and publishing.
The event halls occupy a total area of about 21,741 square metres, whereas the participants are divided into 601 Arab publishers and 303 international publishers.
Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority said that steady growth and the diversity of the attendees embodied the multi-cultural positioning of Abu Dhabi both regionally and internationally. "Events such as these create a window to see the latest creative work and the essence of the human intellect and present them to all segments of society.”
He added: “We confidently look forward to a future that is based on science and culture, at the same time, we proudly hold on to our ancient heritage, and we have confidence that the development the Fair witnesses with the increasing number of participants will continue in the coming years, so it reinforces its worth of being categorised by the International Federation of Publishers as the largest event of its kind in the Arab region and the Middle East.”
Jumaa al-Qubaisi, Director of Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, said: “This embodies the role it has come to play in Arab cultural life as one of the principal centres that does not only celebrate the book, but aims to transform this celebration into a grassroots event that gives new life to the book and opens new horizons, whether through publishing practices or through markets and relations between publishers and the people.”
In light of the environment friendly direction of the fair, recycled paper is used in all published material related to the exhibition in order to preserve the environment and to make it a "truly green Fair". Moreover, there will be gifts distributed during the fair which are made of recycled substances and of fabrics and materials that are biodegradable.
This year, the ADIBF boasts of a vast array of new initiatives such as autograph (tawaqee) sessions, Arab Rights Showcase and the DAAD Project, and also cultural, professional and creative programmes.
The DAAD initiative presents an innovative concept within the activities of a cultural organisation by seeking to remove dividing walls and closing gaps between creative cultural enterprises and various groups of readers. This project introduces a living model of support for writers who receive support from the organisers.
As a part of the cultural programme, the best of Arab and international authors will come together to hold a diverse and rich mix of panels, talks, debates and book-signing sessions.
The professional programme will involve a series of panels, matchmakings, talks and presentations targeted at assessing the state of today’s book publishing industry and offering insights into international benchmarks and best practices.
ADIBF’s Creativity Corner activities will touch on all the aspects of education from reading, illustration, writing and reading attitudes. It will be divided into several sections dedicated for mathematics, science, computers, artistic expression, reading and traffic awareness, as well as a corner for child education counseling. There will be an enhanced focus on children with special needs within all activities and events.
Illustrators’ Corner is a dedicated exhibition area where illustrators, designers and agencies will introduce their work to fellow publishing professionals as well as the general public. The space will include a seating area for meetings and a screen for show reels.
The fair will open daily from 9am to 10pm, except for Friday when it will be open from 4pm to 10pm.