The Abu Dhabi Book Fair 2025 was a much-awaited event, especially for book lovers, writers, families, students, and culture lovers. In short, nearly everyone! It included people from 90+ countries and over 2,000 activities, which meant there was ample space for global stories to get enough limelight.
Moving on, there was something for everyone. For instance, visitors could enjoy author talks, poetry nights, kids’ zones, and cultural exhibitions. In a nutshell, the fair celebrated the diversity of culture and how people witness it through manuscripts.
Abu Dhabi Celebrates Global Literature in Book Fair ’25
A lot of people dream of book publishing in Abu Dhabi, but they don’t bother attending the main event of the year. So, for the unaware audience of ours, today we will be discussing everything about it.
- When Did the Abu Dhabi Book Fair Start?
It began in 1981 as the Islamic Book Fair, and five years later, in 1986, it was renamed the Abu Dhabi Book Fair to reflect a broader literary and cultural focus. Over the decades, it has evolved into one of the most fruitful and largest book fairs in the region.
Fast forward to 2025, the current year, in which they welcomed global publishers, authors, and readers for an enormous cultural exchange. In this event, they also intend to promote education and celebrate the power of books and storytelling.
- What Made the 2025 Edition Special?
According to the news reports, the 2025 fair started on the 26th of April and ended on the 5th of May. They also mentioned that the venue was the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and everything went smoothly. Moreover, the event featured thousands of exhibitors from 96 countries and hosted over 2,000 activities. Isn’t that big enough to make everyone gasp? *jaw drops*.
Moving on, the theme was “Knowledge Illuminates Our Community”, and it perfectly aligned with the UAE’s Year of Community. In addition, as a tribute to the theme, the fair focused on bringing people together through literature, learning, and creativity, making it an energetic and all-inclusive cultural event.
- Why Was ‘Global Stories’ Chosen as a Theme?
Now, coming back to the main topic, the ‘Global Stories’ theme, let’s explore where it came from and what it was intending to demonstrate. Beginning with the theme, it was introduced to highlight literature from different cultures and languages. The purpose is as simple as this.
Then, based on this intention, the event featured numerous books in over 60 languages, as the fair aimed to promote understanding and connection through storytelling. Apart from this, the Caribbean Basin was chosen as the Guest of Honour to ensure that the rich tradition of the region can be brought to the spotlight.
Finally, the theme was chosen also because it encouraged visitors to explore diverse perspectives. Additionally, it helped the reader community understand how stories can unite people across borders and backgrounds.
- Who Were the Icons Celebrated in the Abu Dhabi Book Fair 2025?
First of all, the fair honoured Ibn Sina (Avicenna), a great scholar known for his work in medicine and philosophy. He was the ‘Focus Personality’ of the event.
Next to it, the ‘Book of the World’ was “One Thousand and One Nights,” a timeless collection of tales that has influenced cultures worldwide. To conclude, these choices reflected the fair’s commitment to celebrating knowledge and imagination.
- How Did Global Stories Bring People Together?
Several global stories, part of the event, helped visitors connect with different cultures. These stories could be found in various places, such as in the author’s books, during their talks, and in the creative sections of the event.
For example, the visitors could meet writers from around the world, join workshops, and explore art and music inspired by literature. In short, the fair was not just about reading, but it was about experiences and building a community as strong as the Gulf publishers.
A List of Story Books Premiered at the Fair
The theme of the ADIBF ’25, “Knowledge Illuminates Our Community”, was chosen for a reason. It was meant to shed light on several scripts that help emphasise the cultural exchanges and shared human experiences. Here are five names and their significance.
1. One Thousand and One Nights
- It is a famous collection of magical stories from the Middle East.
- It shows how storytelling can teach lessons and bring people together.
- The fair celebrated it as the Book of the World because it’s loved across cultures.
- Moreover, it is full of wisdom shared across cultures for hundreds of years.
2. Kalila and Dimna
- It is the script of old animal stories with clever messages, originally from India.
- These tales in the book teach valuable lessons about perception and life through the use of talking animals.
- It is a great example of how stories travel across countries and still make sense today.
- Hence, it was chosen because it connects different cultures.
3. The Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz
- The third one is a set of novels about a family living in Egypt.
- The script shows how people grow, change, and learn over time.
- More importantly, the author of this book won the Nobel Prize.
- It was chosen as it shows how books help us know people and make society a better place.
4. The Canon of Medicine by Ibn Sina (Avicenna)
- The next one is not a storybook, but a very important manuscript about health and science.
- It was written over 1,000 years ago, and it has helped countless doctors around the world.
- So, the fair honoured Ibn Sina as a ‘Focus Personality’ for his knowledge.
- The primary motivation behind this idea was to illustrate how sharing knowledge enhances the lives of everyone.
5. The Sea Creatures Series by Osamah Almusallam
- Lastly, there were fantasy books from Saudi Arabia with sea myths and magical worlds.
- These stories were a mixture of imagination with history, and culture.
- They also helped readers explore new ideas while staying connected to tradition.
- Hence, to make learning fun and help kids love reading and thinking, this series became a part of the ADIBF ’25.
The Commonly Asked Questions
Q. What does the ‘global stories’ refer to?
In the context of the book fair 2025, this term refers to the fair’s celebration of diverse literary and cultural narratives. These stories come from around the world, with a particular focus on the Caribbean as the Guest of Honour. Thus, the fair acts as a platform for cultural exchange.
Q. Which countries were included in the 2025 book fair?
The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) 2025 featured thousands of exhibitors and visitors from more than 90 countries.
Q. Were authors from other countries invited to speak?
Yes, the event featured authors and publishers from various countries because the fair is known for its diverse international participation. So, yes, they were also allowed to engage in the discussions, share insights into their cultures, writing journeys, and global themes.
Q. Were there any other activities lined up for the event?
The ADIBF usually has a variety of activities planned, including author meetups, book signings, professional workshops, and other cultural programs. There are also engaging events like poetry nights, music performances, art exhibits, and culinary experiences.
The Final Words
So far, we have understood that the Abu Dhabi Book Fair 2025 was an amazing one as it successfully lived up to the theme. It included many countries and thousands of visitors, which proves how excited people are about it every year. Moreover, the blog also discusses how several global stories took the center stage at the festival. Five out of those many names mentioned above are truly a depiction of how culture can be conveyed through books as well.
