Arab World's Largest Book Fair Opens with 1,200 Exhibitors and 1,500 Events

Thirty-five editions in, the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair remains one of the Arab world’s most expansive public gatherings for readers, learners and cultural participants. Running until 18 September at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, this year’s Fair brings together 1,200 exhibitors from 95 countries and will host around 1,500 cultural, intellectual, artistic and educational events. For ordinary visitors, families and young people seeking access to diverse literary perspectives, new publications and direct engagement with writers and thinkers, the scale of what is on offer is considerable.

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, inaugurated the event under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates. The Fair is organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi. Its theme this year, “Turn The Page, Read The World,” signals a commitment to connecting audiences with global literary and cultural content while keeping the Arabic language and regional publishing at the centre.

During his tour, His Highness visited pavilions including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, and the Guest of Honour pavilion featuring Balkan Culture in collaboration with the Republic of North Macedonia. He also reviewed the ALC’s pavilion, where he examined The UAE in Pictures: Reflections, a recent publication authored by His Excellency Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, the centre’s Executive Director. The inaugural pavilion for the Emirati Pioneers initiative, the Menassah Distribution pavilion and the Chinese national pavilion were also part of the tour. Full details of the event and its cultural programming are available at https://www.mediaoffice.abudhabi/en/arts-culture/under-the-patronage-of-the-uae-president-abdullah-bin-zayed-inaugurates-35th-abu-dhabi-international-book-fair/

This year’s edition coincides with the UAE’s “Year of Family,” a framing that reinforces the Fair’s public role in supporting reading as a social habit and cultural foundation. Dedicated zones serve children and young adults, with workshops designed to build an early, sustainable relationship with books and the Arabic language while developing reading, expression and creative skills. The Fair offers families direct opportunities for learning, interaction and exploration, making it as much a civic gathering as a publishing trade event.

The Fair honours the polymath Al Khalil ibn Ahmad Al Farahidi as the Focus Personality this year, recognising his foundational contributions to the Arabic language and its sciences. Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote has been selected as the “Book of the World,” celebrating a literary work that crosses cultural boundaries. The ALC will also honour the winners of the 2026 Sheikh Zayed Book Award during the Fair, marking two decades since the Award’s establishment.

His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, placed the Fair’s significance squarely in terms of public connection and shared knowledge. “The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is a flagship expression of a long-term cultural vision and a commitment to bringing people, cultures and ideas together,” he said. “For 35 editions, it has demonstrated the timeless power of literacy and reading, while continuing to evolve and engage new generations of visitors.”

His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, emphasised the Fair’s role in making reading and culture more accessible to new generations, keeping pace with technological advances with each edition. “The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair continues to fulfil its mission of supporting Arab culture and promoting the Arabic language, strengthening its position as one of the region’s and the world’s leading cultural events,” he said. He added that the 35th edition reflects the UAE’s role as a global hub for publishing and the creative industries, with the Fair reinforcing culture as a vehicle for intercultural dialogue and greater understanding among peoples.

Meanwhile, the Fair’s programming extends well beyond books on shelves. Sessions examining the future of publishing amid rapid technological shifts are featured alongside professional gatherings bringing together translators, publishers and authors to address translation, intellectual property rights and anti-piracy strategies in the digital age. These conversations carry direct relevance for readers and creators alike, as the publishing ecosystem that produces accessible, affordable books depends on how those questions are resolved.

The ALC is also launching the annual “Emirati Pioneers” initiative this year, highlighting influential Emirati personalities who have shaped the nation’s and region’s history. The initiative is designed as a bridge between past, present and future, introducing younger generations to national role models while linking reading to historical, heritage and civilisational achievements. An artistic opening ceremony traces the Fair’s history from its inception in 1981 to 2026, featuring a national segment celebrating the UAE through Emirati melody and song, followed by a theatrical production titled “Al Khalil’s Metaphor: A Legend of Love and Survival.”

Whether the Fair’s ambition to foster a durable reading culture among younger generations takes hold will, in the end, be measured not in exhibitor counts but in the habits that visitors carry home after 18 September.