Under patronage of UAE President, Abdullah bin Zayed inaugurates 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair
Under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed inaugurated the 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair at ADNEC, featuring 1,200 exhibitors and roughly 1,500 events.
Fair opens under presidential patronage
On 13 September 2026, under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, inaugurated the 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF). The Fair, organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, runs at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi until 18 September.
This year’s edition, themed ‘Turn The Page, Read The World’, brings together 1,200 exhibitors from 95 countries and presents a programme of about 1,500 cultural, intellectual, artistic and educational events. The Fair continues to position Abu Dhabi as a global hub for publishing and the creative industries while reinforcing the Arabic language and literacy as pillars of the Emirate’s cultural strategy.
Programme highlights and international partners
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah toured numerous pavilions, including shows from Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation. The Guest of Honour pavilion showcases Balkan culture in collaboration with the Republic of North Macedonia. The ALC’s own pavilion displayed new titles and digital and audio projects, including the book The UAE in Pictures: Reflections by Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji.
The Fair honours Al Khalil ibn Ahmad Al Farahidi as its Focus Personality and names Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote as the ‘Book of the World’. The ALC will also present the winners of the 2026 Sheikh Zayed Book Award during the event, marking two decades of the prize.
Supporting creativity, families and future professionals
Held in conjunction with the UAE’s ‘Year of Family’, this edition emphasises reading and cultural activity as instruments of social cohesion and human development. Dedicated zones and tailored programmes target children and young adults, while professional gatherings bring together translators, publishers and authors to discuss translation, intellectual property rights and anti-piracy measures in the digital era.
Organisers are highlighting the role of modern formats and technologies — including digital publishing and artificial intelligence — in shaping the future of books. The Fair also launches an annual ‘Emirati Pioneers’ initiative to showcase national role models and strengthen ties between heritage and younger generations.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and Dr Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, underlined the Fair’s long-term cultural purpose and its contribution to the knowledge economy and intercultural dialogue, noting its evolution across 35 editions.
Source: WAM