emirates7 - Today marks the opening of the 34th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, solidifying its reputation as a premier global hub for culture and knowledge. Over the years, the fair has played a crucial role in promoting cultural and intellectual sustainability while advancing the Arabic language within the creative industries both locally and internationally.
The fair’s story began in 1981 when the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan inaugurated the first edition, known then as the "Islamic Book Fair," at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, featuring 50 publishers. In 1986, the event took its current form as the Abu Dhabi Book Fair, welcoming 70 publishers, and by 1988, it had expanded to include 80 publishers from 10 Arab nations.
By 1993, the fair became an annual event, steadily attracting a wider array of publishers from around the world. In 2001, it drew around 514 publishing houses, alongside a notable presence of cultural leaders and intellectuals.
The 2009 edition saw the debut of "The Arab E-Library" and hosted 637 publishers from 52 countries, with France later honoured as the Guest of Honour in 2011.
In 2014, the fair introduced its first "literary figure of honour," celebrating the poet Al Mutanabbi, alongside participation from 1,050 exhibitors. The following year, marking its Silver Jubilee, the fair honoured Sheikh Zayed as the "Personality of the Year," with 1,181 publishers from 63 countries participating.
In 2018, during the UAE’s Year of Zayed, the fair once again celebrated Sheikh Zayed's legacy, hosting 1,350 exhibitors from 63 nations, while Poland was featured as Guest of Honour.
In 2019, India was the Guest of Honour, and the event launched the "One Million Tolerant Document" initiative, in line with the UAE’s Year of Tolerance.
The most recent edition welcomed 1,350 exhibitors from 90 countries under the theme "Where the World’s Tales Unfold," introducing 145 new publishers and participants from 12 additional countries, including Greece, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Pakistan, and others.
The current 34th edition (April 26 – May 5, 2025) brings a new milestone by extending the fair to 10 days for the first time. This move aims to foster greater innovation in publishing, strengthen cultural exchange, and enhance support for local and Arab writers by broadening their connections with international publishing networks.
This year, the fair celebrates the vibrant Culture of the Caribbean as its Guest of Honour and spotlights the philosopher and physician Ibn Sina (Avicenna). A special tribute to One Thousand and One Nights is also featured as part of the rich cultural program.
The 2025 fair sees record participation, with more than 1,400 exhibitors from 96 countries, representing over 60 languages. Notably, 120 exhibitors are making their debut, marking an 18% increase. The event also welcomes publishers from 20 new countries across four continents, representing over 25 languages, and features 28 international pavilions, 87 governmental bodies, 13 author-publishers, 15 universities, and 8 initiatives focused on supporting the publishing industry.
The fair’s story began in 1981 when the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan inaugurated the first edition, known then as the "Islamic Book Fair," at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, featuring 50 publishers. In 1986, the event took its current form as the Abu Dhabi Book Fair, welcoming 70 publishers, and by 1988, it had expanded to include 80 publishers from 10 Arab nations.
By 1993, the fair became an annual event, steadily attracting a wider array of publishers from around the world. In 2001, it drew around 514 publishing houses, alongside a notable presence of cultural leaders and intellectuals.
The 2009 edition saw the debut of "The Arab E-Library" and hosted 637 publishers from 52 countries, with France later honoured as the Guest of Honour in 2011.
In 2014, the fair introduced its first "literary figure of honour," celebrating the poet Al Mutanabbi, alongside participation from 1,050 exhibitors. The following year, marking its Silver Jubilee, the fair honoured Sheikh Zayed as the "Personality of the Year," with 1,181 publishers from 63 countries participating.
In 2018, during the UAE’s Year of Zayed, the fair once again celebrated Sheikh Zayed's legacy, hosting 1,350 exhibitors from 63 nations, while Poland was featured as Guest of Honour.
In 2019, India was the Guest of Honour, and the event launched the "One Million Tolerant Document" initiative, in line with the UAE’s Year of Tolerance.
The most recent edition welcomed 1,350 exhibitors from 90 countries under the theme "Where the World’s Tales Unfold," introducing 145 new publishers and participants from 12 additional countries, including Greece, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Pakistan, and others.
The current 34th edition (April 26 – May 5, 2025) brings a new milestone by extending the fair to 10 days for the first time. This move aims to foster greater innovation in publishing, strengthen cultural exchange, and enhance support for local and Arab writers by broadening their connections with international publishing networks.
This year, the fair celebrates the vibrant Culture of the Caribbean as its Guest of Honour and spotlights the philosopher and physician Ibn Sina (Avicenna). A special tribute to One Thousand and One Nights is also featured as part of the rich cultural program.
The 2025 fair sees record participation, with more than 1,400 exhibitors from 96 countries, representing over 60 languages. Notably, 120 exhibitors are making their debut, marking an 18% increase. The event also welcomes publishers from 20 new countries across four continents, representing over 25 languages, and features 28 international pavilions, 87 governmental bodies, 13 author-publishers, 15 universities, and 8 initiatives focused on supporting the publishing industry.