Literature, poetry, politics and economics are some of the subjects to be discussed during the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.
Held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from Monday to Sunday, the annual event features a strong programme of daily panel sessions and seminars featuring award-winning authors, government officials, filmmakers and musicians.
Some of the big names appearing at the fair include Syrian poet Adonis, Nobel Prize for Economics winner Guido Imbens and this year's winners of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award and the International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
Their sessions will take place in various stages across the site, which will also feature hundreds of stands selling books from regional and international publishers.
Entry to the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is for those 16 years and older and is free with prior registration from the website. Vaccinated visitors are required to show a negative PCR test result on the Al Hosn app taken within the past 30 days. Unvaccinated or exempt visitors are required to show a negative PCR test result on the Al Hosn App received within 96 hours. Face masks must be worn at all times.
Here are 10 key sessions to check out at the fair.
1. 'Taha Hussein: Insight of Mind' (May 23, main stage, 7pm)
With Hussein recognised as the book fair's Cultural Personality of the Year, the 20th century author’s career will be honoured throughout the week.
In the first of numerous sessions dedicated to Hussein, a high-profile panel, including Egypt's minister of culture Inas Abdel Dayem and Saudi professor of literature Abdullah Al Ghadami, will explore the resonance of Hussein’s work and why he is lauded as the “Dean of Arabic Literature”.
2. 'Causality in Data Science' by Guido Imbens (May 23, main stage from 8.15pm)
Get set for a timely and fascinating lecture by the 2021 Nobel laureate in economics.
The Dutch-American will discuss the role economists play in predicting future societal trends, how they shape government and fiscal policies and some of the innovative methodology used to reach their conclusions.
3. A reading by Syrian poet Adonis (May 24, main stage, 7.30pm)
Sit back and listen to Adonis, one of the world's greatest living poets.
Recognised as a giant of Arabic literature, the work of Adonis — real name Ali Esber — has been studied in schools and universities across the Arab world, in addition to collections of his work published in various languages including English and French.
In a previous interview with The National, he described his poetry as partly powered by a desire to challenge prevailing misconceptions of the region.
“I want us to revise how we look at ourselves, how we look at our past and reanalyse ourselves and our culture and its relation to the world,” he said. “It is important to create a new picture for the Arabs, a more honest one and one we can build on again.”
4. Winner and shortlisted authors of the 2022 Ipaf (May 24, youth stage, 7pm)
By the time this session comes around we will know who is the winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, one of the Arab world's most prestigious literary prizes. The winner will be announced on the eve of the book fair on Sunday.
More than a victory lap for the winner, the event will have all six shortlisted authors discuss their acclaimed work. Demand to attend the session will rise should nominee Reem Alkamali become the first Emirati novelist to win the Ipaf award.
5. ‘One Hundred and One Books: Arabic Books that Enriched the World’ (May 25, Main Stage at 5pm)
Professor and Sheikh Zayed Chair in Arabic and Islamic Studies, Bilal Al Oraifi, leads a discussion on some of the most important and classic books to come from the Arab world and why they stand the test of time.
6. ‘The Current Status of the Arabic Novel by Roger Allan’ (May 26, main stage, 8pm)
Viewed as one of the most important contemporary American Arabists, Allan discusses the benefits and challenges of translating some of the works by Arab literary greats such as Naguib Mahfouz and Hanan Al Sheikh, in addition to why exposing such books to a global audience is necessary.
7. 'History of Music in the UAE' (May 27, youth stage, 4.30pm)
With conservatories such as Bait Al Oud and Berklee Music Abu Dhabi firmly part of the UAE music scene, it is easy to forget there was a time when aspiring musicians and composers had to achieve without the aid of such institutions.
Eid Al Faraj, who formed one of the UAE's first musical groups in 1969 in Ajman, and veteran composer Ibrahim Gomaa will discuss how the UAE's vibrant music came to be and some of the pioneering local cultural and music festivals of the past.
8. 'Gulf Women's Literature: Traits and Achievements' (May 27, youth stage 6.30pm)
Ipaf nominee Reem Al-Kamali will join fellow Emirati novelist Luwla Mansouri to discuss various aspects of Emirati women's literature, from its themes to key novels published over the years.
9. 'Global transformation and the future of soft power' (May 28, main stage, 11am)
The tumultuous times we are living in have caused nations to reassess their approach to multilateralism. Such moves throw up new challenges, such as what role soft power can play in addressing today's challenges.
UAE assistant minister for culture and diplomat Omar Ghobash and Indian politician Shashi Tharoor will unpack some of these issues in this timely session.
10. 'Saudi Cinema: towards a new understanding' (May 29, youth stage, 4pm)
With Saudi Arabia's film industry flourishing over the past five years, Saudi culture writer and novelist Yahya Qassim will discuss the progress and the challenges experienced along the way.
More information on the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is available at adbookfair.com
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Paris Can Wait
Dir: Eleanor Coppola
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Diane Lane, Arnaud Viard
Two stars
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Specs
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Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
SHAITTAN
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The Matrix Resurrections
Director: Lana Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick
Rating:****
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
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Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The specs: 2019 Audi A7 Sportback
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
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Fuel economy 5.9L / 100km
The years Ramadan fell in May
RESULTS
Tottenham 1
Jan Vertonghen 13'
Norwich 1
Josip Drmic 78'
2-3 on penalties
MEFCC information
Tickets range from Dh110 for an advance single-day pass to Dh300 for a weekend pass at the door. VIP tickets have sold out. Visit www.mefcc.com to purchase tickets in advance.
