The final weekend of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is when families come out to play.
After days of meetings and deal makings by authors and publishers, the vast space at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre makes way for big crowds.
The fair is open to the public until Sunday and entry is free upon registration.
Here are five things you won't want to miss:
1. Rare Qurans and manuscripts
The book fair is a haven for international antiquarian book sellers. From Germany and Switzerland to the UK, they return to Abu Dhabi to sell rare editions of regionally relevant titles.
At the centre of the fair you can find the all-white pavilion belonging to a trio of sellers, including the UAE’s Eqtna and Forum Antiquariaat from the Netherlands, home to some rare gems, including a 15th century Quran stemming back to China’s Ming Dynasty and an 18th century Arabic-Italian dictionary comprising 9,000 words.
While solo buyers are known to snap up some of the pieces, regional cultural organisations, such as museums and universities, also acquire rare works, an ADIBF employee tells The National.
2. The wonders of the Chinese abacus
Learn about the intricate design and function of the Chinese abacus at the Abacus Cultural Heritage stand in Hall 10. Part of the China's book fair programme, you can learn how they are fitted and used to solve arithmetic sequences from addition and subtraction to extracting quare and cubic roots.
3. A life-size game of Scrabble
Ever played Scrabble with a sports-style commentary?
A major draw of this year’s fair is a life-size Scrabble game, where four players battle it out to find the highest-scoring word. An umpire walks around the pitch to ensure the spelling is right and a commentator is on hand to shout 'bravo' for the winner.
Located in Hall 7, the feature is part of an all-encompassing education section featuring children’s literature and learning tools.
4. Train your future Batman
The 85th anniversary of the Batman comic is celebrated with a kid-friendly pavilion. Styled as a training centre for “future superheroes,” children are put through a series of obstacles before they are deemed ready to become the next Dark Knight. To beef up their credentials, an impressive looking replica of the batmobile is on hand for photos on the way out.
5. An old Cairo bookshop
A throwback to Cairo's famed book market can be experienced at the book fair. Located at Hall 10, the Souq Azbakeya is named after western districts of Cairo. Here you can find a range of sellers selling relatively affordable Arabic novels and copies of old Egyptian pop-culture magazines.
Posters, ranging from Dh20 to Dh50, of some of the region’s famous Egyptian songbirds are available.
With Egypt this year’s guest of honour, the Souq Azbakeya is part of a vast Egyptian-inspired programme, including a multimedia pavilion dedicated to author Naguib Mahfouz.
More information is available at adbookfair.com
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Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
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Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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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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Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Results:
5pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600 metres
Winner: Dasan Da, Saeed Al Mazrooei (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Saabah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Mukaram, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 2,200m
Winner: MH Tawag, Richard Mullen, Elise Jeanne
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) | Dh70,000 | 1,400m
Winner: RB Inferno, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh100,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Juthoor, Jim Crowley, Erwan Charpy
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Fight card
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) v Rey Nacionales (PHI)
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROM) v Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR)
Catch 74kg
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) v Omar Hussein (JOR)
Strawweight (Female)
Weronika Zygmunt (POL) v Seo Ye-dam (KOR)
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) v Walid Laidi (ALG)
Lightweight
Leandro Martins (BRA) v Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW)
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) v Sofiane Benchohra (ALG)
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR)
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Glen Ranillo (PHI)
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) v Aidan Aguilera (AUS)
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) Sasha Palatnikov (HKG)
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR)
