Abu Dhabi: The Al Dhafra Book Festival 2023 (ADBF) has kicked off under the theme ‘Al Dhafra: Celebrating a Cultural Legacy.’
The ADBF is organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC). The festival will host a diverse cultural program, including a range of events, such as poetry evenings, seminars, and artistic activities, to foster knowledge and culture among all members of the community. The event brings together 50 exhibitors at the Public Park in Zayed City, Al Dhafra Region, every day from 4:00 pm until midnight, from December 4–10.
In line with the vision of the UAE’s leadership, the festival aims to showcase Al Dhafra as a leading cultural, touristic, and historical destination for visitors from the UAE and abroad. Furthermore, the event seeks to inspire a sense of pride in the region, building on the foundations laid by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE, decades ago.
Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, said that, “The Al Dhafra region featured prominently in the thoughts and poems of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It is a city of poetry icons, a destination for their journeys, with a long history and rich folk heritage, making it an ideal venue for organising this festival.”
Al Dhafra Book Festival 2023 will also feature several cultural seminars, including a session titled ‘Yes I Can!’ and ‘A Story of Hope’. Other sessions on the agenda include ‘Sustainability through Generations’, ‘The Relationship of Arab Youth Today with the Linguistic Heritage of the Arabic Language’, and a session about ‘Cultural Journalism and Creating Reading Awareness.’
The Al Dhafra Book Festival 2023 is held in collaboration with the Municipal Community Centre at Al Dhafra Region as a partner and PayRaw as a logistic partner. The programs are also organized in collaboration with a group of partners, including the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, the Arabic Language Youth Council, the Mohammed Bin Khalid Al Nahyan Future Generation Society, and the Environment Friends Society.