His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has directed that AED 6 million be allocated for the purchase of books and educational materials from the 500,000 titles on sale at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2021.

The books and educational materials will be distributed to government schools across the UAE, in support of the education sector. It also highlights the importance of having literary works and cultural resources readily available to students from different age groups.

His Excellency Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, UAE Minister of Education, said: “Investing in books means investing in minds, the very foundation that any nation’s success is built on. We are grateful to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for his support. Making a wide variety of literary works from the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair available to students will undoubtedly play an instrumental role in their educational development.  It will also contribute greatly to broadening their horizons and better acquaint them with different cultures to hone their skills and further their experiences throughout their educational journey."

His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, said: “We are greatly appreciative of this gesture, which reflects the vision and wisdom of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE  Armed Forces, as it provides significant support and assistance to one of our country’s vital cultural industries, considering the recent announcement of exempting publishers from paying participation fees for the current edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.”

His Excellency added: “We will immediately begin working with the Ministry of Education to ensure the selection of titles meets the needs of students at various levels of education, and to provide school libraries with the latest and most important literary, scientific, cultural and educational publications. By doing so, we will be able to motivate our youth to read and discover more about the world around them, which is in line with the vision of His Highness to encourage reading among students, and to make reading and acquiring knowledge a priority for the UAE community.”

Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is considered one of the most prominent cultural event locally and regionally. held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Fair has become a leading platform to support the publishing industry, and enhance the cultural exchange, and expand the reach of the Arabic creative and literary publications, through developing advanced digital platforms such as written and audio publications.

Abu Dhabi International Book Fair continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening the culture of reading within the community, bringing together readers and pioneers, reflecting an added value to the local and international cultural and humanitarian landscape.

The 30th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair will be held with the participation of more than 800 exhibitors from 46 countries, presented as a ‘hybrid’ programme of virtual events and activities held on the ground amid precautionary measures to ensure that visitors enjoy an inspirational and safe cultural experience.