Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Abu Dhabi, 25 November 2019:   Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, today the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) inaugurated the 2nd edition of Al Dhafra Book Fair. The event, taking place from 25 - 29 November at Madinat Zayed, Al Dhafra, features the latest publications from Emirati and regional authors across a range of genres, covering literature, poetry, history, children’s books and more, complemented by a rich programme of seminars, panel discussions, meet-the-author sessions, workshops and creative activities. 

The opening ceremony of Al Dhafra Book Fair was attended by HE Sultan Khalfan Al Rumaithi, Undersecretary of the Court of the Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, HE Fouad Chehab Dandan, the Lebanese Ambassador to the UAE, and Abdullah Majed Al Ali, Acting Executive Director of Dar Al Kutub Sector at DCT Abu Dhabi, alongside a large number of intellectuals, authors and cultural enthusiasts.

The fair’s Cultural Programme features key authors and thinkers discussing major topics such as the environment, poetry and heritage, and visitors have the opportunity to meet their favourite authors and hear about their experiences. Furthermore, interactive and educational activities and workshops for children will be offered at the Creativity Corner and the Illustrators’ and Art Corner.

Abdullah Majed Al Ali said: “We are pleased to open the Al Dhafra Book Fair, a now annual cultural platform that allows eager book enthusiasts to get their literary fix and broaden their horizons. In addition to a fantastic selection of titles, the second edition of the fair offers a packed agenda of panel discussions, interactive programmes and more. We hope our visitors will enjoy an enriching experience, not only browsing the latest books and publications but taking the opportunity to join a creative workshop or talk and learn something new.”

DCT Abu Dhabi will showcase its latest Kalima translation project publications in a special pavilion at Al Dhafra Book Fair, displaying more than 500 titles translated from 18 languages, covering various genres including literature, fiction, history, politics, art and poetry, as well as children's books. Special discounts are being offered to visitors to the fair.

The first day of the fair kicked off with a panel discussion titled ‘Emirati Folklore and its Impact on Poems’, delivered by Emirati poet Suroor Al Kaabi, who discussed the structure of Emirati poetry and how it has been influenced by Emirati folklore, delving deeper into the role that traditions and culture play in the formation of a poem.

Skill-building and artistic workshops for children took place throughout the day, including ‘LEGO Robotics’, ‘Make Your Own Slime!’, ‘Picasso Paintings’, ‘Design Your Own Maze!’, and ‘Cities of Paper’, in addition to a Sesame Street show which taught its young audience about the concept of tolerance.

Tomorrow, highlights of the fair’s programme include a lecture by Emirati writer Mohammed Shoaib Al Hammadi on ‘The Culture of Citizenship and Elevating Community Members’, which will address the controversy in the relationship between culture and citizenship and the role that citizenship culture plays within societies. Additionally, children will enjoy a series of workshops at the Illustrators’ and Art Corner and author sessions at the Creativity Corner.

Al Dhafra Book Fair is open daily from 9am to 1 pm, and from 6pm to 10 pm; and from 5pm to 10pm on Friday.