The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) announced the extension of the duration of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) to 10 days starting from its 34th edition, which is set to be held from 26 April to 5 May 2025.

The decision serves the Centre’s objectives to encourage innovation in the publishing industry and enhance dialogue and cultural exchange. Moreover, extending the duration of the UAE capital’s premier event will provide greater support for local and Arab authors to showcase their works, giving them more time to connect with international publishers, which helps in establishing sector-specific guidelines and standards based on international best practices in publishing.

The extension of the Fair’s duration is set to take place in parallel with an upgrade to the event’s infrastructure, designed to provide better facilities for exhibitors and visitors, in addition to expanding the scope of educational programmes to include diverse topics targeting various age and professional groups.

The Centre made the decision to extend the duration of ADIBF based on strategic and promotional considerations, following a comprehensive study the ALC conducted to develop the Fair and enhance its key metrics, especially the number of visitors and sales figures.

A survey conducted during the 2024 edition of the Fair revealed that a majority of visitors and exhibitors would like to see an extension in the duration of the Fair, which serves as a platform for creative content rooted in the Arabic language, gathering all industries that support print, visual, audio, and interactive cultural productions, in a bid to increase its global usage.

The extension aligns with regional competitiveness standards, seeing as the average duration of exhibitions in the region ranges from 10 to 12 days.

Furthermore, the decision enhances interaction among professionals in the publishing and creative content industries, expanding the professional network of both the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair and the ALC, and ultimately strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a hub for Arabic publishing and creative content with a progressive regional and global outlook.

His Excellency Dr Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, asserted that extending the duration of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair will strengthen its regional and global competitiveness, while allowing visitors and exhibitors to benefit more from this prominent cultural event and its takeaways.

"The decision to extend the Fair’s duration will enhance the event’s international standing, allowing more time for delegations and guests from around the world to participate and engage", HE Bin Tamim added. "This will also enable the event to welcome more local and international visitors, broadening its reach and popularity, and ultimately contributing to the cultural economy by increasing economic activities related to books and publishing, which, in turn, supports publishers and authors, providing them more time to showcase their work and interact with the audience, thus increasing sales and promotional opportunities".

With the decision to extend the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2025, the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre aims to encourage greater cultural interaction and communication between authors and the public, by organising a wider range of cultural events, including seminars, book signings, and workshops.

Furthermore, it aims to provide more opportunities to visit the Fair, particularly for students and employees, who may not be able to attend on weekdays, in addition to enhancing cultural tourism by attracting tourists interested in culture and books to Abu Dhabi, thereby establishing the UAE capital as a leading cultural and tourist destination.