The fifth Al Dhafra Book Festival, organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), will take place from December 9 to 15, 2024, at Madinat Zayed Public Park in Al Dhafra. Under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, this year’s festival is themed “Al Dhafra: Celebrating a Cultural Legacy.”
The event will showcase 50,000 titles from 100 local and Arab publishers. This marks a significant increase, with the number of participating publishers doubling compared to last year. The festival’s agenda includes over 200 events aimed at strengthening the UAE’s cultural, literary, and artistic heritage. It will also focus on encouraging youth to engage with reading through family-friendly experiences.
Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, highlighted the festival’s success in promoting the creativity of the Al Dhafra region, its poets, and its heritage. “The festival has built a strong connection between the new generation and the habit of reading, while also fostering an appreciation for the Arabic language,” he said. “It has become a highly anticipated cultural event, celebrated for its focus on knowledge, art, and literature.”
Bin Tamim emphasized that this year’s event will celebrate the cultural and intellectual richness of Al Dhafra, a region known for inspiring poets and writers with its unique beauty. “The festival honors the place that has shaped so much creativity, reflecting the exceptional nature of Al Dhafra,” he added.
The significant increase in the number of participating publishers, according to bin Tamim, indicates the growing interest in Al Dhafra as a cultural hub. “This growth is a milestone and highlights the increasing desire among publishers to showcase their work to the diverse community in the region,” he said. “It aligns with our strategic goals to promote the Arabic language and nurture a generation that values reading and its cultural heritage.”
The festival’s new offerings include Hadirat Baynounah, inspired by traditional storytelling sessions, as well as musical performances such as Emirati singing and roaming musical acts. The Arab Choir will perform timeless poems by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Founding Father.
In addition to these cultural activities, the festival will feature live cooking demonstrations with professional chefs and a Junior League for youth sports competitions in collaboration with Al Dhafra Sports and Cultural Club.
The Al Dhafra Book Festival continues to reflect the region’s unique identity. Held in the heart of the Empty Quarter, the festival celebrates Emirati life and heritage, where the desert meets the sea. For the third year in a row, the main stage will host Poetry Nights: Voices Loved by People, honoring Al Dhafra’s cultural and artistic pioneers, including poets and singers. The festival will also include heritage workshops for Gen Alpha and sessions for People of Determination.
Additionally, the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre will host an awards ceremony at Al Dhafra Fort to honor the winners of the second edition of the Sard Al Thahab (Golden Narrative) Award, which celebrates storytelling as a key art form in the Arab world.
