New books, new ideas beckon readers

Abu Dhabi: The fresh smell of newly printed books and the allure of glossy covers drew in school pupils by the hordes at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) which opened its doors at 11am Thursday.

Young enthusiasts were seen running round the children’s area holding colourful story books, while older students stared in awe at the stacks of books that stretched as far as the eye can see.

This year also marks the first official participation of special needs students at the Abu Dhabi Education Council’s (Adec) Abu Dhabi Reads initiative.

“Every year, special needs students take part of Abu Dhabi Reads, but this year they are an official participant and we have our own stand here at the fair,” said Hanaa Al Hamdani an Academic Quality Improvement Officer at Adec who was speaking at ADIBF.

At the stand, a blind ADEC pupil was seen printing a picture of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, alongside several statements about his legacy and its importance, all in Braille.

A number of devices for special needs students were on display including a personal FM system that allows deaf individuals to communicate with others by simply using a small piece of equipment wrapped around their neck.

Giving a talk as part of the fair’s special programme, Emma House, director for publishers relations at UK Publishing Association, gave an overview of the publishing industry in the Middle East.

“Direct consumers are extremely important to publishers in the region, particularly those who are publishing in Arabic. Every country in the region has their own book fair, so it’s a very packed calendar, and publishers often find themselves spending most of the year going around the region visiting each book fair,” she said.

Under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the ADIBF is hosting over 500,000 titles and 130 new exhibitors from Croatia, New Zealand, Poland, Colombia and Georgia.

The fair is marking its silver jubilee this year since its launch in 1981 as the Islamic Book Fair by Late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose memory is being commemorated at the event.

Over 600 authors, intellectuals and experts in the field of publishing are taking part in ADIBF 2015 including American writer Cynthia Bond, Jonah Tell (author of 100 Ways to Save the World) and Indian author Altaf Tyrewala.