The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has announced that the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) will be extended to a 10-day event, beginning with its 34th edition, scheduled to take place from April 26 to May 5, 2025.

The decision aligns with ALC’s mission to foster innovation in the publishing industry while promoting dialogue and cultural exchange. Extending the duration of the UAE capital’s premier literary event will provide increased support for local and Arab authors, offering them more opportunities to showcase their works and connect with international publishers. This extended timeframe also helps sector-specific guidelines and standards in line with the best international practices in publishing.

The extension of the Fair’s duration is set to take place in parallel with an upgrade to the event’s infrastructure, designed to provide better facilities for exhibitors and visitors, in addition to expanding the scope of educational programmes to include diverse topics targeting various age and professional groups.

The ALC made the decision to extend the duration of ADIBF based on strategic and promotional considerations, following a comprehensive study conducted by the ALC to develop the Fair and enhance its key metrics, especially the number of visitors and sales figures.

The survey, which was conducted during the ADIBF 2024, revealed that a majority of visitors and exhibitors would like to see an extension in the duration of the Fair, which serves as a platform for creative content rooted in the Arabic language, gathering all industries that support print, visual, audio, and interactive cultural productions, in a bid to increase its global usage.

The extension aligns with regional competitiveness standards, seeing as the average duration of exhibitions in the region ranges from 10 to 12 days.

Furthermore, the decision enhances interaction among professionals in the publishing and creative content industries, expanding the professional network of both the ADIBF and the ALC, and ultimately strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a hub for Arabic publishing and creative content with a progressive regional and global outlook.

Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, emphasized that extending the duration of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair will enhance its regional and global competitiveness. It will also allow both visitors and exhibitors to fully benefit from this prominent cultural event and its rich offerings.

“The decision to extend the Fair’s duration will elevate its international profile, providing more time for delegations and guests from around the world to participate and engage,” said Dr. Ali bin Tamim. “This extension will also allow the event to welcome a greater number of local and international visitors, thereby broadening its reach and popularity. Ultimately, this contributes to the cultural economy by boosting activities related to books and publishing. It offers publishers and authors extended opportunities to showcase their work, interact with audiences, and increase sales and promotional prospects,” the ALC Chairman added.