Abu Dhabi - UAE
The activities of the thirty-fifth session of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair will begin on Sunday, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, carrying a slogan that transcends the boundaries of language to provide an intensive reading of the role of culture in a time of major transformations: “Let us turn the page and read the world.”

A cultural message in the year of the family

This year, the slogan acquires additional significance in the context of the UAE’s declaration of 2026 as the “Year of the Family,” as it confirms that reading is a social value that establishes a more aware family, a more cohesive society, and generations that possess the tools for critical thinking and openness to the world, so that culture becomes a long-term investment in humans as the real wealth of any development project.

A cultural platform that brings together 95 countries
The new session confirms that the exhibition has transformed from a specialized event in the publishing industry into a global platform where culture intersects with economics, education, technology and diplomacy, by attracting participants from 95 countries and organizing about 1,500 events, in reflection of its role in enriching cultural dialogue and building knowledge partnerships. The Balkan culture will be a guest of honor through the participation of the Republic of North Macedonia, while the exhibition celebrates the scholar Khalil bin Ahmed Al-Farahidi as a central figure, and chooses the novel “Don Quixote” by Miguel de Cervantes as a book for the world.

Abu Dhabi's vision to invest in knowledge

In this context, Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, said: “

The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair embodies Abu Dhabi's vision of investing in culture and knowledge as two pillars of comprehensive development and engines for building a knowledge economy and promoting rapprochement between peoples. Over the course of 35 years, the exhibition has developed from a platform that brought together publishers and authors into a pioneering cultural institution that contributes to shaping intellectual mobility, stimulates innovation, and supports the growth of cultural and creative industries.”

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70% of the events are for children and teenagers
For his part, Dr. Ali bin Tamim, President of the Abu Dhabi Center for the Arabic Language, explained that this session represents a new station in the journey of a national cultural project that has established its position as a global platform for producing knowledge, promoting civilizational dialogue, and anticipating the future of cultural and creative industries. Meanwhile, Saeed Hamdan Al-Tunaiji, Executive Director of the Center and Director of the Exhibition, revealed that the percentage of activities dedicated to children and adolescents is no less than 70%, with about 1,000 events targeting these two categories, including joint interactive reading workshops between parents and children and sessions to empower young people and prepare them to enter the world of publishing.

An Arab cultural destination par excellence
The exhibition is an ideal destination for the Arab visitor looking for a comprehensive cultural experience that combines literature, arts, music and traditional crafts, with the “Poetry Nights” program, which presents poetry evenings with the participation of a group of the most prominent Arab poets, and the ceremony honoring the winners of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award 2026, which celebrates the award’s achievements over two decades. The event also represents a valuable opportunity for Arab publishers and investors to build knowledge partnerships with their counterparts from around the world within a specialized conference that discusses the most prominent transformations and emerging trends in the publishing sector and creative industries.