Dubai children's book fair to be held in February

Dubai: Children's literature in the Arab world is expected to get an impetus with the launch of The Dubai International Children's Book Fair, which will be held from February 3-10.

The book fair is organised by the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation to create a platform that will generate greater awareness about the importance of children's literature as a key component in the development of the youth throughout the Arab World.

The fair also intends to create new business and investment opportunities in publishing and support the development of children's literature in the Arab World.

With the participation of regional and international publishers, the fair will provide a convenient and centralised business-to-business networking platform for publishers to pursue gainful business prospects in publishing children's books in the Arab World.

Adel Al Shared, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, said: "In line with the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, youth development has been made an important component in Dubai's long-term strategic development plan.

Challenges

"Through the Book Fair, we expect to gather the best minds in the literary world as well as leading publishers from the region and beyond to discuss various opportunities and possibilities and address challenges in the development of children's literature.

"This exhibition will act as a catalyst in realising our goal of establishing a truly comprehensive youth development programme not just for Dubai but for the entire Arab World."