Abu Dhabi International Book Fair opens and Sheikh Zayed Book Award laureates are formally recognised with a ceremony at Louvre Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi International Book Fair has officially opened with over 1000 exhibitors and a stellar lineup of speakers including infamous Syrian poet Adonis, respected author and thought leader Homi K. Bhabha, and literary theorist Gayatri Spivak. Over 650 events with a focus on language, translation, literature, and poetry will take place throughout the week at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), with more than 80 countries participating from around the world.
Germany, the Guest of Honour, has returned to the Fair with a dedicated pavilion and a vibrant programme to celebrate German literature and culture, under the motto #germanstories. For the first time in the history of the book fair, the programme includes the ‘International Congress of Arabic Publishing and Creative Industries’ to reflect on the adaptation of books into other formats. Speakers and moderators from the likes of Disney+, World Bank, Rakuten Kobo, TikTok and The New York Times took to the stage to consider how different media can thrive as the business of storytelling evolves.
Today a ceremony took place at Louvre Abu Dhabi which formally recognised this year’s eight Sheikh Zayed Book Award laureates. Award winners include Dr Abdullah Al-Ghatami as Cultural Personality of the Year, Maisoon Saqer in the Literature category and Egypt’s Bibliotheca Alexandrina in the Publishing & Technology category. Each winner will receive a life-changing sum of money, intended to allow them to further their literary and academic achievements.
Image credits:
ADIBF 2019
ADIBF 2022
ADIBF 2022
SZBA Ceremony (Natascha Law)
