Organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) under the theme ‘All Eyes on Al Ain’, Al Ain Book Festival 2025 concluded a markedly successful 16th edition that brought together a growing audience from across the UAE and neighbouring nations.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain Region, from 24 to 30 November 2025, the festival offered visitors an expanded range of published works, cultural activities, and artistic performances, along with an increasingly diverse group of participating entities.
The 2025 edition of the festival featured around 100,000 titles and hosted more than 220 exhibitors, including publishing houses and cultural institutions, with 40 entities participating for the first time. This growth enhanced public cultural engagement, broadened intellectual awareness, and affirmed the festival’s role in redefining the city’s cultural identity.
The festival’ programme offered 400 events delivered by approximately 200 contributors, including speakers, workshop facilitators, and artists. It featured around 100 children’s workshops, including three designed specifically for People of Determination, and staged 24 interactive workshops. The agenda also featured 13 theatrical performances, 12 sessions within the Flavourful Nights programme, and eight distinguished sessions under the ‘Poetry Nights: The Sung Word’ programme, which brought together over 30 prominent poets from the UAE.
His Excellency Dr Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, said: “This year’s edition of Al Ain Book Festival marked a notable advancement in the annual event’s commitment to embracing cultural industries and integrating diverse artistic practices and creative forms with the world of books, thereby revitalising cultural heritage and embedding it within the fabric of contemporary life.”
“In terms of participation, events, and partnerships, this distinguished edition has achieved new milestones that extend the festival’s established record of success,” His Excellency added. “It advances our vision at the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre to promote the presence of the Arabic language, enrich the cultural landscape of Al Ain, and highlight the city’s distinctive character as a historic cultural and tourist destination.”
“This year, the festival saw a notable increase in participation from publishing houses, with 40 joining for the first time,” H.E. bin Tamim continued. “This reflects the confidence that Al Ain Book Festival has earned among stakeholders in the publishing and cultural sectors, who have become essential pillars of broader developmental progress.”
Al Ain Book Festival 2025 featured another edition of the ‘Poetry Nights: The Sung Word’ programme, building on the considerable success of previous editions and the event’s strong appeal among admirers of folk poetry. The programme devoted three evenings to three eminent Emirati poets whose lifelong contributions to poetry and folk heritage have left enduring legacies. Through a series of dialogue sessions, these evenings commemorated their achievements and honoured their lasting influence on the field.
Held at Qasr Al Muwaiji, the programme began with a session dedicated to the legacy of the late Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, one of the most prominent national figures in preserving heritage. The second evening highlighted the poetic contribution of the late Sheikh Dr. Hazza bin Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan and examined his cultural influence on Emirati society, while the third evening explored the career of the late poet Hamad bin Suhail Al Ketbi, one of Al Ain’s foremost poets, whose extensive body of works includes numerous songs performed by leading artists across the Gulf and the wider Arab world.
Furthermore, the ‘Poetry Nights: The Sung Word’ programme honoured leading poets from Al Ain who have long celebrated the city’s captivating landscape and green oases. A session titled ‘From the Pulse of Society to the Pulse of Poetry: Al Ain Through the Eyes of its Poets’, examined the origins and evolution of Nabati poetry in the city. The programme also showcased a distinguished selection of Emirati folk voices in a session titled ‘Voices from Our Heritage’, during which poets discussed the traditional performance arts of shillat, raddha, al-azzi, and al-mankous.
Meanwhile, the ‘Pillars of Al-Razfa Poetry in Al Ain’ session highlighted a distinguished group of Emirati poets renowned for their mastery of the Al-Razfa traditional performing art. The programme closed with an evening titled ‘Poets of the Future’ that brought together a group of children who demonstrated a keen interest in Nabati poetry, with the aim of identifying and nurturing promising young talents. Another session on closing night, titled ‘Poetry and Society’, examined the role of poetry in passing down enduring values and customs, and assessed its influence on the community.
Al Ain Book Festival also collaborated with Majalis Abu Dhabi – Al Ain City to host specialised cultural sessions, marking a significant advancement in the development of cultural programmes. The sessions focused on Emirati heritage and traditions, alongside discussions of social and cultural issues that foster intergenerational dialogue. These partnerships added a vital community dimension to the festival, aligning with the ALC’s mission to support national culture and enhance intellectual awareness across all segments of the community.
For the first time, this year’s edition saw the launch of the ‘On the Path of Knowledge, We Gather’ initiative, in collaboration with Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club. The initiative forms part of the festival’s ongoing efforts to support community, cultural, and sporting projects that reinforce Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a leading destination for culture and sport. It aims to encourage members of the community to adopt a holistic, cultural and healthy lifestyle through an athletic challenge that tracks the daily steps of festival attendees.
The festival also introduced a new interactive experience with the Flavourful Nights programme, which highlighted the significance of Emirati cuisine as an essential aspect of national identity. Visitors had the opportunity to engage with skilled chefs from the Al Ain community, uncovering the secrets behind traditional dishes. The initiative expanded the festival’s focus beyond literature and art to also encompass culinary culture.
In a gesture of appreciation for literary creativity, the ALC inaugurated the festival by honouring the winners of the Kanz Al Jeel Award, recognising their contributions to enriching the UAE’s poetic and literary landscape. The ceremony, held at the historic Qasr Al Muwaiji, was presided over by H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamdan bin Zayed, with the attendance of H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi); H.E. Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, DCT Abu Dhabi Undersecretary; H.E. Dr Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, and H.E. Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, the Centre’s Executive Director.
The festival hosted events at prominent historical and tourist landmarks across Al Ain, in an effort to further enhance the city’s position as a distinguished cultural and tourist destination. Al Ain Square, the main plaza of the magnificent Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, was the setting for major activities, events, and workshops, while the century-old Qasr Al Muwaiji hosted enchanting evenings as part of the ‘Poetry Nights: The Sung Word’ programme.
The Majalis Abu Dhabi – Al Ain City also played a significant role in the event by providing a platform to explore Emirati heritage through a series of cultural sessions. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), Liwa University, Abu Dhabi University, and Aldar Academies organised educational sessions under the ‘Educational Roadshow’ initiative, aimed at stimulating curiosity and promoting learning.
For their part, Kanad Hospital, Al Foah Mall, and Barari Outlet Mall hosted the ALC’s Khazanat Al Kutub initiative, with dedicated spaces offering a diverse and distinctive selection of titles from the Centre’s Kalima Project for Translation, Esdarat project, and Basaer (Insights) series of research papers and studies.
Al Ain Book Festival 2025 offered the city of Al Ain a renewed opportunity to engage with both Arab and global culture, as well as a platform where thought, art, and community converge. With its packed programme of activities, the festival affirmed its commitment to establishing the Arabic language as a cornerstone of Emirati identity, while contributing to Abu Dhabi’s cultural vision by organising high-quality events that meet international standards. This, in turn, reinforces the UAE’s position in the global cultural landscape and strengthens Al Ain’s presence as a vibrant bridge connecting heritage with contemporary creativity.
