Abu dhabi: Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and Director of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, affirmed that the 35th edition of the fair represents a qualitative leap in its journey by combining digital expansion and deepening global cultural exchange. He pointed out that the current edition is hosting exhibitors from 95 countries, with the participation of seven countries for the first time in the history of the fair: Kosovo, Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, and Cuba. This raises operational efficiency and consolidates Abu Dhabi’s position as a global center for the publishing and creative industries.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Al-Tunaiji said that the activities of the 35th session, which number about 1,500 events, are distributed across three main axes: global culture and civilizational dialogue, innovation and the making of the future, and arts and live cultural experiences, thus consolidating the impact of the exhibition as a global platform for shaping the features of modern publishing, through cultural, educational, professional, artistic programs and programs for children and youth, from which sessions, seminars and workshops emerge that support young talents and motivate them to be creative in the fields of the Arabic language, while ensuring that the activities and events benefit from artificial intelligence technologies, and protecting intellectual property rights.
He added that the center is launching a new tradition that expands community engagement with the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. This will be achieved through an artistic opening ceremony, the first edition of which will showcase the fair’s journey from its inception in 1981 to 2026. The ceremony will include a national program celebrating love for the UAE through Emirati music and song, followed by a theatrical performance titled “Majaz al-Khalil: A Legend of Love and Survival,” based on the legacy of Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi. This performance will employ the concept of “balance” to present a contemporary humanistic vision that highlights the power of words and the values of love and tolerance.
Regarding the scale of participation, he stated that the record growth in international participation reflects the great strategic value of the fair and the confidence of the international creative community in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. He pointed out that this growth attracts investments in creative industries, provides platforms for financial and professional support for Arab publishers and young people, facilitates the exchange of publishing and translation rights, and fosters international partnerships, thus reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s role as a major center for knowledge production and the development of a cultural and intellectual economy.