Abdullah bin Zayed inaugurates 34th ADIBF

Sharjah 24 – WAM: Under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, inaugurated the 34th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) on 26 April 2025. The event, organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), runs until 5 May 2025 with the theme: Knowledge Illuminates Our Community.

Focus and highlights of the 2025 edition

The 2025 ADIBF selected the Culture of the Caribbean Basin as the Guest of Honour, Ibn Sina as its Focus Personality, and One Thousand and One Nights as the Book of the World. The fair is being held at the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi and is expected to feature over 2,000 events, including the first-ever Poetry Majlis and the inaugural Digitising Creativity conference.

Emphasising cultural and intellectual exchange

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan toured the fair's pavilions, engaging with local and international publishers about the challenges and opportunities within the rapidly transforming publishing industry. The fair promotes cultural diversity, sustainability in publishing, and the integration of technology into the creative sectors, reaffirming Abu Dhabi's leadership in the global publishing community.

A platform for knowledge and community engagement

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, highlighted the fair's role in fostering an inclusive, knowledge-driven society. Dr Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of ALC, emphasised the importance of the fair in nurturing a connection between the community and the Arabic language. He also underlined the fair's alignment with UAE's goals to promote cultural diversity and sustainability.

Diverse cultural programmes and innovations

The fair’s programming includes a wide range of topics such as sustainability, artificial intelligence, and Arab sciences. It features events like poetry nights, cross-cultural poetry exchanges, and interactive workshops for children and youth. The fair also hosts the Podcast from Abu Dhabi programme and the Creative Arts Programme, including exhibitions and performances, highlighting cultural experiences from around the world.

Evolving the publishing industry: The Evolve Programme

ADIBF's Professional Programme, Evolve, is focused on the future of the publishing and creative industries, with a particular focus on the impact of artificial intelligence. Workshops and keynote discussions will explore growth and innovation strategies, while the Digitising Creativity Conference will delve into the integration of modern technology in publishing.

A record-breaking event

This year’s edition is expected to welcome more than 300,000 visitors, further solidifying the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair's status as a leading global platform for culture, knowledge, and creativity. The fair's success highlights the UAE's role in promoting literature, intellectual exchange, and sustaining the global publishing industry.