Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan during the opening day of Abu Dhabi Book Fair on Wednesday.
Abu Dhabi - Sheikh Abdullah opens 28th ADIBF, which runs until May 1
Published: Wed 25 Apr 2018, 7:05 PM
Last updated: Wed 25 Apr 2018, 9:33 PM
It is the most delightful time of the year for book worms as one of the region's biggest book fair opened in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, which will run until May 1, was officially inaugurated by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, with a special ceremony at the guest of honour's pavilion, Poland.
Thousands of people, including school children, hit the venue on the inaugural day touring various stalls looking for their favourite authors and publishers.
The ADIBF offers visitors more than 800 activities including workshops, seminars and panel discussions, children's activities, cooking demonstrations, theatre and dance productions and many others.
Running now for 28 years consecutively since 1981, the book fair brings the best of the written word to the capital. This year, more than 500,000 titles spanning 35 different languages are on display at the annual event in the Capital. There are also 1,350 exhibitors from 63 countries at the fair.
Know 1,000-yr old Polish literature
Celebrating Poland as the Country of Honour, the ADIBF introduces audiences to the 1,000-year history of Polish literature. Works, authored by Polish writers over the centuries has been displayed for all people to explore the cultural wealth of Poland. As many as 21 publishers, scores of Polish authors, translators alongside chefs and dancers are also participating in the key events throughout the book fair.
Robert Rostek, Ambassador of Poland to UAE, said: "To be the Guest of Honour of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2018 is a great privilege, but being a Guest of Honour in the 'Year of Zayed makes this role even more special and important."
Agnieszka Urbanowska, international cooperation specialist at the Book Institute of Poland, told Khaleej Times: "I believe this fair will introduce Polish authors to Abu Dhabi and increase our presence in this part of the world. Our pavilion also features the latest trends in the country's literature and highlights the history of Muslims in Poland, which dates back to many centuries ago."
The Polish pavilion also presents 1,000-year of the country's history in literature, with examinations of works by Polish authors over the centuries.
"We have brought here excellent Polish writers and visitors will have the opportunity to meet the authors while children's authors will conduct readings and workshops," added Urbanowska.
Polish books translated into Arabic are also on display and translators of Polish literature into Arabic are also present to discuss the works of famous Polish writers such as Nobel Laureate Wislawa Szymborska, Janusz Korczak, Henryk Sienkiewicz and others.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism's Kalima Translation Project is presenting 25 new books of literature, translated from three international languages - French, English and German - at the book fair.
The week-long fair is open to the public from 9am to 10pm daily except on Friday, when the timings will be 4pm to 10pm.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com
Visitors during the first day of week-long book fair in Abu Dhabi.
iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
