The Al Ain Book Festival 2024 launched its second edition under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, at Al Ain Square, Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), the Arabic literature festival runs November 17–23 under the theme "All Eyes on Al Ain", offering a vibrant cultural programme that honours Emirati heritage and champions the Arabic language.
A Cultural Landmark for the UAE
The festival reinforces Al Ain's long-standing tradition of scholarship and humanism — fitting, given the city's designation as Gulf Tourism Capital 2025. This year's edition spans six major venues: Al Ain Square, Al Jahili Fort, UAE University, and three malls across the city hosting the "Khazanat Al Kutub" activities.
Visitors can browse more than 100,000 scientific and intellectual titles across 200 exhibitor pavilions. Over 200 events and activities bring together leading voices in literature, art, and poetry from across the Arab world and beyond.
ALC Chairman Dr. Ali bin Tamim said the festival's patronage "underscores its success and consolidates its position as a prominent cultural destination," adding that it aims to cultivate a generation of avid readers with deep ties to the Arabic language and UAE heritage.
Poetry Nights and Key Highlights
One of the festival's signature programmes is Poetry Nights: The Sung Poetry, which celebrates the UAE's folk poetry heritage through three distinct segments:
- "The Absent Yet Present" — commemorating notable poets who passed away in 2024 - "Beginnings and Endings" — documenting the development of poetry preservation in the country - "Poets Majlis" — recreating the spirit of 1980s television poetry gatherings with a modern touch
This edition also honours the legacy of the late Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan as a literary laureate.
Other highlights include the Kanz Al Jeel Award ceremony (third edition), the "Creative Walks" initiative supporting young Emirati writers, illustrators, and photographers, a Mobile Smart Library for children's literature, and the "Words of the Founding Father" pavilion celebrating Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's legacy.
Building a Knowledge Society
The Al Ain Book Festival 2024 is central to Abu Dhabi's broader cultural vision. The ALC continues to promote Arabic as a cornerstone of cultural identity, encouraging both youth and adults across the UAE to deepen their connection to the nation's literary and historical roots.
Visitors are invited to participate in this celebration of Arabic literature, Emirati tradition, and the written word through November 23, 2024.
