The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), represented by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), has concluded its participation at the 52nd edition of the Cairo International Book Fair, which was held in the Egyptian capital from 30 June to 15 July.
During this year’s edition, the ALC participated with two pavilions - one dedicated to book sales and engagement with readers, and the other hosting book signings and cultural programmes. Both Kalima and Esdarat showcased more than 500 titles, including 27 new titles. Additionally, through the ‘Atheer Al Kutub’ and ‘Wajeez Al Kutub’ initiative, the ALC pavilion featured a selection of audiobooks of prominent works, which were accessed by fair-goers who engaged with this interactive feature and scanned the QR code on their Smartphones.
As part of the participation this year, the ALC delegation also held a series of high-level meetings and visits. Among them was a visit with His Eminence Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar where they showcased the Centre’s most important programmes and initiatives as well as discussed potential for collaboration in developing the Arabic language and promoting its presence around the world. The delegation also met with Her Excellency Dr. Ines Abdel-Dayem, Egyptian Minister of Culture, to explore new areas for cooperation and cultural exchange, further reinforcing ties between the two countries in this field. ALC’s delegation also held two meetings with representatives from the Arab Book Fairs Association and the Arab Publishers Association, in which they discussed the state of the publishing industry, tackling its most pressing challenges, and potential areas for cooperation between book fairs in the region.
HE Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, said: “We are delighted to have seen the 52nd edition of the Cairo International Book Fair being held this year and witness its great success, especially following the decision to postpone it due to the pandemic. We hope this success is reflected across all the subsequent Arab book fairs to be held this year. This edition of the fair gave us yet another opportunity to meet with readers, and convene with our partners to exchange knowledge, discuss challenges and find new innovative ways to support the publishing sector.”
As part of its participation agenda, the ALC hosted various virtual cultural events that were broadcast on the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair and ALC’s social media platforms. These events included four virtual sessions discussing books published by the Kalima and Esdarat initiatives, including Celebio in the Garden of the Roses by Kalima, Empowering Women in the United Arab Emirates by Esdarat, The Road to Soft Power: The United Arab Emirates and Africa – Towards Collaborative Partnerships by Esdarat and Al Owais Prize-winning novel Tanweer al Maa by Esdarat.
