The UAE pavilion, "The Emirati House," was organised by the UAE Embassy in the People's Republic of China in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, in celebration of the UAE's selection as the Guest of Honour at the fair.

The UAEBBY pavilion was visited by His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture, His Excellency Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, UAE Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, and a number of distinguished guests and visitors from within China and abroad.

22 silent books from the Arab world

During its participation, the Council showcased 22 silent books in Arabic, including 12 titles from the UAE and 10 from across the Arab world. These books were presented to the public as examples of visual storytelling, which tells stories through illustrations and images without written text. They served as a window into the experiences of Arab illustrators and authors, highlighting the power of visuals to transcend linguistic boundaries and reach readers of diverse cultures and ages.

The Council emphasised the concept of the silent book as a creative form that relies on visual language to convey meaning and emotion, allowing each reader to construct their own experience of the story according to their imagination and cultural background.

Visitors were also introduced to the history of this type of book and its importance in fostering communication among children from different countries, as it requires no translation and offers everyone an equal opportunity to engage with and understand the story.

Going beyond cultural boundaries

Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of UAEBBY, said: “Our participation in the Beijing Book Fair stemmed from our belief in the importance of an active presence at global cultural platforms that bring together bookmakers, publishers, and creators from around the world. We were keen to highlight silent books because of their exceptional ability to transcend linguistic and cultural boundaries and deliver stories to readers everywhere. The fair also provided an opportunity to build professional relationships that contribute to expanding cooperation and knowledge exchange, and enhance the role of children’s literature in establishing the values of dialogue and understanding among peoples.”

Visitors, especially children, interacted with the Board’s participation in the fair and showed remarkable interest in silent books and visual reading experiences. The exhibits offered an opportunity to discover stories told solely through pictures, which contributed to spontaneous conversations about imagination, creativity, and the arts of illustration and visual storytelling. This interaction helped introduce the fair’s audience to contemporary Arab and Emirati experiences in children’s literature, highlighting its artistic merit and ability to resonate with readers worldwide.

Showcasing Emirati and Arab creative achievements on the international stage

UAEBBY,’s participation in the fair embodied its ongoing commitment to supporting the children’s and young adult book industry, showcasing Emirati and Arab creative achievements on the international stage, and fostering opportunities for cultural cooperation and the exchange of expertise with institutions concerned with children’s literature worldwide. It also underscored the importance of the silent book as a shared human language that contributes to building bridges of understanding between cultures and opens new horizons for communication through the power of images and visual storytelling.