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This was the 30th edition of the book fair
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The 2020 edition of the fair was not held due to the Covid-19 pandemic
The recently-concluded 30th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair saw an increase in book sales of more than 20 percent compared to the 2019 edition, said local reports.
The 2020 edition of the fair was not held due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which spread across the world that year.
Organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and managed by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, the fair took place between May 23 and May 29 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
This edition of the fair was a hybrid event, said the local reports, as it combined on-ground and virtual programming.
It reportedly saw comprehensive precautionary measures for the safety of participants and visitors. The fair also exempted exhibitors from all participation fees at this year’s edition.
Ali bin Tamim, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, was quoted by the reports as saying, “At this year’s event we were pleased to unveil a series of important initiatives to bolster the sector following what has been a very challenging time.”
The fair also witnessed the launch of two initiatives: Emirati Treasures, which celebrates the UAE’s 50th anniversary later this year, and Oyoon Al Nathr Al Araby (Exploring Arab Prose), which promotes digital and audiobooks.
ADIBF 2021 saw the introduction of several initiatives aiming to bolster the publishing sector, starting with a directive issued by the fair’s patron, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, to allocate AED6 million (around $1.6 million) for purchasing a large collection of books, reference titles and educational resources to be distributed to government school libraries across the nation.
The ADALC significantly increased the number of grants issued through its annual “Spotlight on Rights” program, from 40 to 300, and expanded its scope to include grants for audiobooks and ebooks.
