The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), launched a new book titled ‘Here… They Have a Story’ as part of the activities of the 35^th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF 2026).

The book features a collection of real-life stories and experiences written by talented members of the UAE community, expressing their ideas and documenting aspects of the human experiences that reflect the richness and diversity of Emirati society.

The book is the fruit of the ALC’s ‘Self-Publisher’ community initiative launched last year to mark the UAE’s ‘Year of Community’, celebrate the local community through literature, and promote a culture of creative writing as a way of life. The initiative offered talented writers of various nationalities the opportunity to showcase their abilities and develop their skills.

The book reflects the diversity of the UAE’s social fabric through stories that highlight the wide array of communities that live in the Emirates, the richness of their cultures, and the social cohesion that characterises UAE society.

During the submission period, the initiative attracted applicants from a variety of age groups and cultural backgrounds. More than 247 entries were received from writers – men and women – of different nationalities, including the UAE, Egypt, Syria, Sudan, India, Jordan, Yemen, Oman, the Philippines, Algeria, Lebanon, Iraq, the United States, Ukraine, Italy, Bahrain, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Pakistan, Tunisia, and Libya.

The stories in the book portray the essence of the human experience through their strong connection to the places where they happened, while highlighting the relationships that tie people together and the noble human emotions that connect them. Despite the diversity of their writers’ voices, the stories converge around the authenticity of the UAE and the pride its residents have in their customs, communicating it in a profoundly human tone filled with emotion and gratitude. Readers encounter the depth of lived human experience in every story and the emotional bond that connects the storytellers with Emirati society, revealing deeper, more ingrained aspects of identity and homeland.

A committee of experts undertook the task of reading and evaluating submissions and then selecting the stories to be included in the book. Selection criteria included writing quality and narrative strength, the stories’ ability to express the power of community, and the level of cultural and human diversity they represent. This approach enabled the finished book to present a diverse portrait of life in the UAE, with various voices and experiences represented.

The 33-37 age group was the most active participant, reflecting broad engagement among young people with the initiative and with writing as a means of expressing personal and human experiences, transforming everyday details, memories, and relationships into stories for reading and celebration.

Publishing the book reaffirms the ALC’s commitment to strengthening the presence of literature in daily life, discovering talent, and offering new publishing and expression platforms. It also reflects the Centre’s efforts to use writing as a means of documenting the community’s collective memory and celebrate the cultural and human diversity as defining characteristics of Emirati society.

The book reflects the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre’s commitment to supporting literary creativity, identifying promising talent, encouraging community members to write in Arabic, and enriching cultural content with publications rooted in real-life experiences. It also reinforces the role of books and literature in analysing society, documenting its collective memory, and celebrating the stories of its people.

‘Here… They Have a Story’ was launched at a celebratory session hosted by the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, attended by the participating authors along with notable cultural figures and media representatives. The ALC announced that the book will be available for purchase at the its pavilion at the Fair, as well as via kalima.ae.