Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the 15th Al Ain Book Festival, organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), will take place from 17-23 November 2024 at Al Ain Square - Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium and other cultural and tourist locations across the city, under the theme All Eyes on Al Ain.
The festival offers diverse programming for people all ages, with themes that aim to nurture talent, create a generation of avid readers, and foster a deeper connection with the heritage and core values of Emirati society. The event also recognises and celebrates pioneers in culture, knowledge, and the arts, while striving to enhance the status of the city of Al Ain, following its designation as the Capital of Gulf Tourism 2025.
Al Ain Book Festival offers an ideal opportunity to acquire the latest books and publications in various fields directly from participating publishers, with this year's edition seeing a 89 per cent increase in the number of participating publishers compared to previous years.
As part of its Poetry Nights: The Sung Poetry programme, the festival will celebrate the legacy of the late Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, honouring his literature and poetry, his dedication to passing on Emirati heritage to future generations, his support for intellectuals and writers, and his impactful role in previous editions of the festival.
His Excellency Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre said: “The Al Ain Book Festival is a landmark event that celebrates authors and publishers and inspires future generations to embrace the culture and history of the UAE. With its ever-evolving vision, the festival has established itself as a leading event on Al Ain’s agenda, a city with a remarkable heritage that has contributed to its position as the Capital of Gulf Tourism 2025.
“With its refreshed agenda of activities this year, the Al Ain Book Festival offers an inspiring experience and has become an annual event eagerly anticipated by the community, attracting families from the area and other emirates to engage with its cultural, artistic, and entertainment programmes suitable for all ages,” H.E. Al Tunaiji added. “For the third consecutive year, the even will spotlight folk poetry through the ‘Poetry Nights: The Sung Poetry’ programme, held at Al Jahili Fort, in line with the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre’s strategy to promote authentic Emirati heritage in the community.”
For the third year in a row, the festival is dedicating a special programme to highlighting the significance of folk poetry, focusing on two themes, honouring the memory of prominent poets who passed away this year and tracking the movement to document folk poetry in the UAE.
In this year’s edition, the festival reiterates its commitment to empowering and supporting youth, featuring rich cultural and artistic contributions from children, adolescents, and young adults, with events that showcase their skills and talents. It also offers them the opportunity to actively participate in the organisation and management of some of the festival’s programmes.
The Al Ain Book Festival aims to strengthen values of belonging and innovation by providing a prominent platform to engage all segments of the community in its activities and programmes. It highlights the unique characteristics of Al Ain city, its distinct community, rich history, and exceptional nature, while promoting these attributes through diverse events. The event also offers the opportunity to purchase books and enjoy new artistic and cultural performances every year.
