UAE: Al Dhafra Book Festival Wraps Up 5th Edition

Al Dhafra Book Festival 2024 Concludes 5th Edition with Record Success

United Arab Emirates, December 21: The fifth iteration of the Al Dhafra Book Festival 2024 officially ended at Madinat Zayed Park. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, sponsored the event, which was organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) and drew an astounding attendance of almost 44,000 people, a 15% increase over the previous year.

The seven-day festival, which had as its subject “Celebrating a Cultural Legacy,” showcased a vast array of 50,000 titles from 100 Arab and local publishing houses. In keeping with the festival’s increasing prominence as a leading literary and cultural event in the United Arab Emirates, this year’s participation rate doubled over the previous one. The festival featured more than 200 entertaining events that appealed to audiences of all ages, including artistic and cultural performances. Mobile performers brought a carnival-like vibe to the lively event, enhancing the lively ambiance and giving guests an unforgettable experience.

Dr. Ali Bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, highlighted the festival’s achievements. “Over the years, the Al Dhafra Book Festival has not only bolstered the local publishing industry but has also created a nurturing environment for reading and reinforced the role of the Arabic language in diverse fields, including arts and sciences,” he said. He underlined that the high level of public participation shows how well the efforts to honor Al Dhafra’s legacy and empower young people through cultural programs are working. The festival’s activities complement ALC’s overarching goal of advancing Arabic-based creative industries, particularly in fields like publishing, artificial intelligence, and other contemporary advancements.

Highlights & New Features
Four brand-new events were added to this season, each providing a distinctive fusion of entertainment and culture. “Hadirat Baynounah,” an immersive reproduction of a traditional Emirati gathering with engaging storytelling sessions and Arabic coffee cooked over fires, was the pièce de résistance.
Another standout event, ‘Flavourful Nights’, brought families and professional chefs together for live cooking demonstrations, celebrating the region’s rich culinary traditions.

The ‘Youth League’ engaged young participants in a series of sports competitions, while the ‘Musical Programme’ delighted audiences with performances by artists such as Qusai Almamari, Mohammed Al Munhali, and Khaled Mohamed. The festival culminated in a grand concert by the ‘Arab Choir’. Additionally, the poetry programme titled ‘Poetry Nights: Voices Loved by People’ introduced a new segment, ‘The Poem Secret’, featuring esteemed poets Sultan Al Refaisa, Ali Al Kindi Al Marar, and Abdulla Omar Al Mansoori. The ‘Beyond the Poem’ session further enriched the lineup with contributions from poets Rashed Al Futyma Al Mansoori, Hamdan Al Samahi, and others.

Celebrating Emirati Folk and Storytelling
The historic Al Dhafra Fort provided the perfect backdrop for the Sard Al Thahab Award 2024 ceremony. Now in its second edition, the award recognizes exceptional contributions to literature, folktales, and biography while bringing attention to Emirati storytelling customs and stimulating new artistic endeavors.

Interesting Programs for Kids and Teens
With young audiences in mind, the festival included a range of engaging workshops and activities to promote skill development in a fun environment. In order to foster creativity and strengthen participants’ ties to their country’s heritage, the “Alpha Corner” offered interactive workshops that included doll making, ceramic painting, and creating traditional Emirati crafts.

Strategic Partnerships
Working with important partners allowed this year’s festival to be a huge success. As the technical partner, Lynador worked with the Al Dhafra Region Municipality’s Department of Municipalities and Transport as the strategic partner. An interesting and inclusive program was made possible with further assistance from the Al Dhafra Sports and Cultural Club and the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination.

With its ever-expanding scope and innovative programming, the Al Dhafra Book Festival has cemented its position as a major cultural event, bringing together literature, heritage, and creativity to celebrate the UAE’s rich legacy while fostering connections between communities and generations.