Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) is organising the second edition of Al Dhafra Book Fair. At this year’s fair, visitors can look forward to a large and varied selection of books and publications to suit a range of interests. Those interested to learn more about the literature, poetry, and local heritage can participate in a range of events and workshops. The fair’s Cultural Programme will see local authors and intellectuals participate in a host of panel sessions and seminars, while creative interactive activities and workshops for children will be offered in the Creativity Corner and the Illustrators’ and Art Corner.
A number of seminars and panel sessions will take place over the days of the fair. These will include the “Emirati Folklore and its Impact on the Poem”, conducted by Emirati poet and journalist Hamdan Al Darei, who will discuss the structure of Emirati poetry and how it has been influenced by Emirati folklore, diving deeper into the role that traditions and cultures play in the formation of a poem.
Emirati writer Mohammed Shoaib Al Hammadi will lecture on ‘The Culture of Citizenship and Elevating Community Members’, which will address tensions in the relationship between culture and citizenship and the role that citizenship culture plays within societies. ‘Nabati and Eloquent Poetry, a Pillar of Our Cultural Heritage’ will feature the poet and academic Talal Al Junaibi along with poet Ayedah Bin Masoud. The session will explore the UAE's cultural heritage based on both types of dimensions of the Emirati classical poem and the Nabati poem.
A seminar led by Isaa Al Shamsi, ‘The Cultural Dimension of Our Environmental Awareness’, will also address the close link between the environment and culture, and explore the extent to which environmental awareness is linked to the UAE culture.
Al Dhafra Book Fair aims at promoting Emirati writers, by exploring the cultural and social environment impact on their creativity and intellectual growth. The book fair also showcases their authorship experiences, creating a unique opportunity for visitors to meet their favourite authors and acquire their signed works.