Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, the third edition of Al Dhafra Book Festival has concluded after a successful seven-day run.

The festival, previously known as the Al Dhafra Book Fair, took place under the theme ‘Celebrating a Cultural Legacy’ from 5 to 11 December at the Public Park in Zayed City in the Al Dhafra Region.

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), launched the new version of the event, transforming it into an innovative festival to enhance Abu Dhabi’s cultural agenda and connect the Al Dhafra community with its heritage and history.

The 2022 festival inspired pride, belonging and loyalty to the UAE, as well as to promoting reading, knowledge and culture in the community, empowering visitors to play an active role in the UAE’s continuous development.

In total, 41 local publishers and distributors showcased their latest books to encourage reading in the Al Dhafra community. The new format of the festival transformed it from an exhibition into an event packed with culture, education, entertainment and artistic performances.

The book fair attracted32,605 visitors, including many students and families, to enjoy the various activities at the 4,000 square-metre site in Zayed City.

His Excellency Dr. Ali Bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, said: “The remarkable success of the new edition of the Al Dhafra Book Festival highlights the creativity and culture in Abu Dhabi, while revealing how it interacts with the environment and society. It also showcases the strong cultural movement throughout the emirate, with its unique identity and national traits.

“We thank the publishers, authors, academics and partners who contributed to the success of the new edition of the Al Dhafra Book Festival with their outstanding creativity and their commitment to delivering their cultural works to readers in Al Dhafra. They are essential partners in our efforts at the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre to organise these events as a platform to strengthen Emirati values and heritage.”

With its new format, the Al Dhafra Book Festival 2022 presented a wide range of diverse literary, musical, and heritage-based activities. The programme included more than 100 activities covering various topics, most notably a series of cultural evenings titled ‘Voices Loved by the People’, which celebrated renowned poets and artists from Al Dhafra.

The festival allocated two areas for youngsters, with one dedicated to children’s workshops, performances and story readings, and another for workshops for youth. There was also an art corner, which featured exhibitions by artists, as well as art workshops held throughout the day. The event also offered visitors a chance to meet fictional characters inspired by Emirati and Arab folktales, which were brought to life with 3D models around the festival, along with a series of roaming artistic and musical performances.

The Al Dhafra Book Festival 2022 was held in partnership with the Al Dhafra Region Municipality - Department of Municipalities and Transport as a strategic partner, and Baynounah TV as a media partner.