Frankfurt 2004, London 2008, BEA 2009 all three international events featured the ‘Arab world’ as a focus – not to mention the Turin 2009 fair, which a couple of years after turning into an international event had Egypt as a guest of honor. The least we can say is that the ‘Arab world’ is getting a lot of attention in the international publishing industry, after having been reported missing for years.

The Abu Dhabi Book Fair, organized by Kitab, a joint venture between ADACH and the Frankfurt Book Fair, has gathered exhibitors from across the Arab world this year. The presence of US, UK, German, Indian and French publishers should also be noted.
The fair coincided with both the Sheikh Zayed Award and the Arab Man Booker, or IPAF, won this year by Egyptian author Zaydan, for his novel ‘Belzebuth | Aazazil’.

Specially noticeable this year in Hall 5 was the presence of the ADACH’s, the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage Foundation, and the MBR’s, the Mohammad Bin Rached al Maktoum foundation, Dubai, bold stands.