Publishers say Al Dhafra Book Festival provides premier knowledge platform

Publishers participating for the first time in Al Dhafra Book Festival, organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), said that their involvement in the event offered them a means to connect with a new audience and an opportunity to be part of a leading intellectual gathering. They praised the festival’s excellent organisation, diverse activities, and ability to engage audiences by presenting knowledge and culture in a modern and innovative format that caters to various tastes, while maintaining authenticity in its content.The number of publishing houses participating in the fifth Al Dhafra Book Festival increased significantly compared to the previous edition, with a total of 100 local and Arab publishing houses taking part in the event and showcasing 50,000 different titles.

Mohammed Bassem Al Shaar, owner of Doroob Al Marefa, expressed his admiration for the stunning beauty of the Al Dhafra region and praised the festival’s excellent organisation and diverse activities. He noted that visitor turnout has been steadily increasing, with local residents purchasing a variety of educational tools for children, including audiobooks, pottery machines, educational series, talking pens, and other engaging learning tools.

For his part, Ehab Al Rifai from New Azbakia Publishing and Distribution, highlighted the unique charm of the Al Dhafra region and the importance of tailoring content to the specific needs of its residents, which he thoroughly researched and considered before participating in this year’s edition of the festival.

"The festival’s remarkable organisation, along with the exciting cultural and musical events, play a vital role in enriching the cultural movement and motivating the public to engage with reading and learning,” Al Rifai said. "Our participation featured a selection of rare books, photographs, records, cassettes, and discontinued magazines, including Majid and Mickey, as well as vintage novels and mysteries like Abeer and The Impossible Man. They also displayed old Emirati heritage records, such as those by Ali Bin Rogha and Mehad Hamad, offering visitors a chance to experience these classic cultural treasures.”

Meanwhile, Adnan Al Hajj, owner of Tanween Publishing and Distribution, described Al Dhafra Book Festival as a significant cultural event and a platform for cultural exchange and knowledge-sharing between publishing houses and the public. He commended the festival’s flawless organisation, the aesthetic appeal of the venue, and the vibrant cultural and musical atmosphere that accompanies it.

Al Hajj noted that while Tanween Publishing offers a wide variety of books, novels by Emirati women authors resonated most with the audience in Al Dhafra. These include Honour of Her Memory by Azza Al Kaabi, Room No. 11 by Sumaya Al Marzouqi, and The Little Writer's Notebook by [author?].

On a similar note, Abdullah Salah from Al Ummah Bookshop said that following the bookstore’s continued success at Al Ain Book Festival over the past five years, they decided to participate in Al Dhafra Book Festival this year to connect with a new audience.

Demand for purchases has been excellent, he added, noting that many people were buying novels, particularly those written by Emirati author Fateem. Her romantic novels, Happy Coincidence and Captivated by Your Love, written in the Emirati dialect, have proven to be exceedingly popular among readers.