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"Emirati Pioneers" is an annual national initiative launched by the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, with the aim of documenting the pioneering experiences of leading figures in the UAE’s cultural and intellectual life and transforming their intellectual and creative legacies into sustainable cultural projects. It seeks to strengthen national memory, preserve the UAE’s cultural achievements, and embody the Fair’s role as a platform for the creation, preservation and transmission of knowledge across generations.
The initiative launches its first edition in 2026 by highlighting the journey of His Excellency Mohammed Al Murr as a national model for cultural development and the sustainability of knowledge. His exceptional career, spanning decades, has contributed significantly to shaping the UAE’s cultural landscape. The first edition is presented under the title "Mohammed Al Murr: A Cultural Project in the Story of a Nation".
Featured Sessions
From Al Rigga to Al Mamzar and Al Jaddaf: Transformations in the UAE Cultural Landscape
The session focuses on the major transformations that have shaped the UAE’s cultural landscape, Mohammed Al Murr’s role in these developments, and his experience witnessing them firsthand.
Prominent Arab Writers
This session highlights the contributions of prominent Arab writers and their influence on literature, culture, and intellectual thought. It explores their works, ideas, and role in shaping contemporary Arab cultural identity.
A Journey of National Service: Priorities from an Intellectual’s Perspective
The session focuses on the role of youth in cultural institutions, not only as a key audience for cultural content but also as future leaders capable of managing and sustaining these institutions.
Dream and Reality in Building Cultural Institutions: The Archive, the Library and the Symposium
The session explores Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr’s vision and contributions to the development of cultural institutions in the UAE.
Dubai in Mohammed Al Murr’s Narratives
The session explores the presence of the city in Mohammed Al Murr’s work as a living narrative element, examining how Dubai and the UAE are transformed in his writings into spaces that embody memory and social change.
Mohammed Al Murr’s Stories: Documenting the Transformations of Society
This session explores Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr’s experience as one of the UAE’s most prominent short-story writers and his contribution to shaping Emirati literature and cultural identity.
The Emirati Intellectual as Seen by Dr. Anwar Gargash
This session explores HE Dr Anwar Gargash’s perspective on the Emirati intellectual, highlighting their role in shaping cultural awareness, preserving national identity, and contributing to the UAE’s social and intellectual development.
The Journalist-Short Story Writer: An Experience in Media
The session explores the relationship between media, culture, and creativity, using Mohammed Al Murr’s experience as a key example.
The Life of a Well-Rounded Intellectual: Arts, Music, and Travel
The session focuses on the key transformation in Mohammed Al Murr’s journey from a writer, intellectual, and cultural figure to an institutional leader who contributed to building the UAE’s cultural landscape.
The Growth of Our Press Institutions
This session explores the artistic and visual dimensions of Mohammed Al Murr’s creative journey, focusing on the relationship between the brush and the written word.