The festival’s family-focused programming, featuring 375 cultural activities across maritime, desert and space-themed zones, creates multiple engagement opportunities for publishers beyond traditional book sales.
The sixth Al Dhafra Book Festival has announced a significant financial boost for participating publishers, with a dedicated Dh1 million ($273,000) fund to purchase books directly from exhibiting houses.
The initiative, revealed as the festival opened on 19 January, demonstrates Abu Dhabi’s commitment to supporting the regional publishing industry.
Organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), the festival has grown substantially since its inception, now featuring 110 publishing houses showcasing 55,000 titles. This represents a 10% increase in publisher participation compared to 2024, when the festival saw a doubling of exhibitor numbers from the previous year.
Regional Growth Trajectory
The Al Dhafra Book Festival, established to celebrate the cultural heritage of Abu Dhabi’s western region, has evolved into a significant platform for Arab publishers. The 2024 edition attracted 44,000 visitors – a 15% increase from 2023 – and featured 100 publishers displaying 50,000 titles across 200 events.
Dr Ali bin Tamim, ALC Chairman, notes the festival’s role in connecting publishers with diverse communities: “The growth in publisher participation confirms we are witnessing great interest from publishers to showcase their intellectual works, contributing to our strategic goals of advancing Arabic language and fostering a knowledgeable generation.”
The View From The Beach
The direct purchasing initiative ensures immediate revenue for participating publishers while building regional distribution networks. The fund aligns with Abu Dhabi’s strategy to establish reading as a sustainable social practice and strengthen the knowledge economy.
The festival’s family-focused programming, featuring 375 cultural activities across maritime, desert and space-themed zones, creates multiple engagement opportunities for publishers beyond traditional book sales. Pop-up libraries throughout the region extend publisher reach into community spaces.
Market Context
The Al Dhafra Book Festival complements Abu Dhabi’s broader literary ecosystem, which includes the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair – now extended to 10 days – and the Al Ain Book Festival. Together, these events provide year-round opportunities for publishers to access the UAE market.
The festival runs until 25 January at Madinat Zayed Public Park, with the Sard Al Thahab Award ceremony recognising excellence in folk narrative traditions, offering additional visibility for publishers specialising in cultural and heritage content.
This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.
