The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) concluded the sixth edition of the Al Dhafra Book Festival. The event took place at Madinat Zayed Public Park in Al Dhafra Region and was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region.

His Highness directed the allocation of a financial grant worth AED 1 million to support the purchase of books and knowledge resources from participating publishing houses. The initiative aimed to enhance the publishing industry, stimulate cultural activities in Al Dhafra, and enrich libraries and educational institutions with a diverse range of knowledge.

For the first time, the sixth edition welcomed the participation of national entities through dedicated pavilions, including Sandooq Al Watan, the Fatima Bint Hazza Foundation, Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities, and TRENDS Research and Advisory. Their involvement contributed to enriching the festival’s intellectual offering and strengthening cultural and institutional partnerships.

Over seven consecutive days, the festival, held under the theme ‘Al Dhafra: Celebrating a Cultural Legacy’, offered a comprehensive cultural experience that brought together all segments of society around books and knowledge. A total of 110 local publishing houses took part, showcasing around 30,000 titles across diverse fields. This marked a 10% increase in the number of participating publishers compared to the previous edition.

This growth was accompanied by strong public turnout across all age groups, engaging with a cultural programme featuring more than 375 cultural, artistic, educational, and entertainment activities. The programme reflected the festival’s growing presence and community impact, particularly with the declaration of 2026 as the ‘Year of the Family’, enhancing the presence of Emirati families and reinforcing reading as a fundamental pillar of culture. It also contributed to the preservation of national identity and fostering a strong connection between young people and books in Al Dhafra Region.

His Excellency Dr Ali Bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, said: “With each successive edition, the Al Dhafra Book Festival has strengthened its position on the cultural events map as a platform that strengthens the bond between new generations and books, deepening their connection to the region’s cultural and intellectual heritage and its deeply rooted human values.”

“The strong engagement with the festival’s activities reflects the growing societal awareness of the importance of reading and knowledge. This also reaffirms the success of the ALC’s cultural vision in transforming books into a vibrant part of the daily life of families and communities, particularly in Al Dhafra Region,” he added.

His Excellency explained that the increase in participating publishing houses, along with the diversity of titles and programmes, demonstrates publishers’ confidence in the festival and its ability to reach all segments of the community. He emphasised that the growth aligns with the ALC’s goals of supporting the local publishing industry and enhancing the national cultural landscape.

This year’s festival featured three newly introduced zones, including maritime, desert and space-themed areas. These zones provided visitors with interactive experiences that blended cultural heritage with scientific knowledge and innovation, offering integrated educational and entertainment content for children, youth, and families. The zones embodied a vision that promotes experiential learning, connects the past with the present, and explores future horizons.

Additionally, the festival featured its well-established cultural programmes, most notably the fourth edition of ‘Poetry Nights - Voices Loved by People’, which hosted a distinguished group of poets celebrating Nabati poetry. The programme also included cultural and artistic sessions as well as traditional performances, which contributed to a lively, festive atmosphere throughout the event.

As part of the festival, the historic Al Dhafra Fort hosted the awards ceremony for the third edition of the Sard Al Thahab Award in a location symbolising deep historical and cultural significance. The ceremony reaffirmed the connection between cultural activity and place, and highlighted the ALC’s commitment to reviving traditional storytelling arts and preserving the UAE’s cultural memory.

Year after year, the Al Dhafra Book Festival establishes itself as a strategic platform that promotes books and knowledge in Abu Dhabi. It reinforces the role of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre in supporting culture and the publishing industry while fostering a sustainable cultural movement. This initiative aims to build a reading society that is deeply rooted in its language and identity and is capable of contributing to the UAE’s cultural development.