The 30th course combines real and virtual activities

"Abu Dhabi Book" challenges the pandemic ... 800 exhibitors from 46 countries

• Part of the press conference to announce the details of the next session of the exhibition.

  Emirates today

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The organizers of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair revealed that the 30th session, which will be organized this year by the Abu Dhabi Center for the Arabic Language at the Department of Culture and Tourism, from 23 to 29 May next, will be held in a hybrid version that combines real and virtual activities.

The organizers of the exhibition, which is organized under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, said that the initiatives and programs of the 30th session will focus on the first line of defense in appreciation of its role in confronting the "Covid-19" pandemic and its repercussions, explaining that The new edition will witness the participation of 800 exhibitors from 46 countries. Germany will be the guest of honor at the exhibition this year and next as well, while the German poet Goethe was chosen as the central figure for the current session.

The President of the Abu Dhabi Center for the Arabic Language, Dr. Ali bin Tamim, confirmed that the exhibition will be organized amid strict precautionary measures, and it will witness several initiatives, including the provision of some incentives, whether in translation or printing, or in relation to facilitating the entry of books and providing all precautionary measures, examinations and full residence for the participants. In it, he pointed out during a press conference held the day before yesterday at the Abu Dhabi Youth Center, that the design of this year's session in a hybrid format was made to enable the largest possible number of individuals to benefit from it, and with the varied program it offers on the ground or virtually.

Bin Tamim added, "The decision to postpone the exhibition in 2020 was difficult, but it was necessary within the framework of the national plan to address the pandemic."

Bin Tamim announced the appointment of the Acting Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Center for the Arabic Language, Moza Al Shamsi, Director of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, to be the first director of a book fair in the Arab Mashreq, pointing to the selection of Germany as the guest of honor for the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair for two consecutive sessions (2021 and 2022), and choosing the poet German Goethe is the central figure for this year's fair.

He noted the exhibition’s keenness to advance the publishing and literature sector, which requires many efforts, pointing to the Abu Dhabi Book Fair taking practical steps to support this sector by providing a comprehensive package of motivational benefits to publishers and authors, including the largest grant to support translation to support book translation in the history of the exhibition. To include 300 scholarships between paper, digital and audio books.

Precautionary measures

For her part, Director of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, Moza Al Shamsi, explained that the full readiness to host an event of this size is a culmination of Abu Dhabi's success in addressing the consequences of the "Covid-19" pandemic, considering that "the credit for this is first due to the directives of our wise leadership, and the sincerity and dedication of the heroes." The first line of defense, who worked hard and sincerely to get us to safety ».

"The exhibition has taken upon itself to adhere to the highest international standards and precautionary measures for the organization, in cooperation and integration with the concerned authorities, and with the Emergency and Crisis Authority, to ensure the safety of visitors and exhibitors," she added.

Moza Al Shamsi reviewed the most prominent information related to the exhibition this year, which will be the largest international book fair held since the beginning of this year, and will present an innovative model of hybrid exhibitions through a virtual and realistic platform in the Arab region, pointing out that the 30th session of the exhibition will witness the participation of more than 800 exhibitors. Local, Arab and international, through its real and virtual platforms, representing more than 46 countries.

As for the exhibition program, it includes many partnerships with multiple cultural institutions on the local, Arab and international levels, and within the framework of these partnerships, more than 100 cultural, educational and professional sessions will be presented, and the exhibition will host 260 speakers between the real and virtual programs during the exhibition sessions.

Multiple initiatives

Moza Al Shamsi explained that this year the exhibition will launch the first virtual platform for the exchange of copyright in the Arab region, which is considered an achievement in the field of Arab publishing.

The exhibition will also allow the participation of thousands of students from schools and universities through virtual events, while the Spotlight on Copyright program will present the largest grant to support book translation in the history of the exhibition, including 300 grants between paper, digital and audio books, and the range of beneficiaries of this grant will also be expanded. To include exhibitors on the virtual scale, in addition to the real one, and hybrid meetings will be organized to facilitate discussions in this area.

Germany is a guest of honor

Moza Al Shamsi added: “Half a million books will be downloaded and made available during the reality exhibition and the virtual platform in this year's session, and the guest of honor, the Federal Republic of Germany, will organize 20 professional and cultural events within the framework of its participation in 2021 and 2022, and will contribute to an integrated program and a large realistic presence. A German film series at Manarat Al Saadiyat from 27 to 29 May. An exhibition from Cinderella to Sinbad ... Arab and German classics was launched in the Cultural Foundation, and will continue until next September.

Mutual effect

The director of the Frankfurt International Book Fair, Jürgen Boz, participated in the conference with a speech via visual communication, expressing his happiness in hosting his country as a guest of honor at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, pointing to the depth of cultural relations between the UAE and Germany, as well as the mutual influence between the Arab and German cultures throughout the ages. .

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Next May, the 30th session of the exhibition will start, and will continue until the 29th of the same month.

Part of the press conference to announce the details of the next session of the exhibition.

Emirates today

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