The Al Ain Book Festival 2024, organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), has seen a significant increase in publisher registration requests for its 15th edition reaching 260 requests, marking an increase of 73% compared to the previous edition. Around 137 exhibitors took advantage of the 10% early bird discount offered by the ALC.

The Centre has also announced a change in the dates of this year’s festival, which will be held from 17 to 23 November 2024, instead of 18 to 24 November as previously planned, in order to accommodate changes made to the venue’s calendar.

His Excellency Dr Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, said: “The strong participation in the Al Ain Book Festival, along with the growing number of publishers and their publications, reflects the success of the Centre’s transformation mechanism, which aims to transform book fairs into a comprehensive event that celebrates books as an authentic symbol of civilisation in its various forms, including arts and sciences.”

“The Al Ain Book Festival has successfully embodied the Centre’s integrated vision, designed to support ambitious objectives to sustain and develop the local publishing sector,” H.E. bin Tamim added. “The event aims to position the Arabic language as a cornerstone of the cultural industry, and a platform bringing together families and all segments of the community, in line with the wise leadership’s directives to prioritise the Arabic language as a fundamental pillar of cultural identity, and a repository of the values, traditions, and the rules of conduct (Sanaa’), upon which the UAE was founded and from which its unique development journey began – a journey that starts and ends with the human being.”

This year’s festival will be held on a 2,472 square metre space that was fully booked before registration closed on 19 September, having opened on 25 July. Notably, 75% of booths were reserved in the first week alone.

Every year, the Al Ain Book Festival celebrates Emirati and Arab creators with a diverse cultural programme that includes innovative activities and events for all segments of the community. The event presents a special programme celebrating folk poetry, along with performances and discounts on notable publications, in line with Abu Dhabi’s vision to promote culture in society and elevate the status of the Arabic language.

At last year’s festival, 150 exhibitors showcased around 60,000 titles across various fields. The event attracted more than 95,000 visitors who benefited from around 400 events and over 500 workshops and educational entertainment programmes for children and youth.