This year's Abu Dhabi International Book Fair will take place at Adnec from May 23 to 29. Mona Al-Marzooqi / The National
This year's Abu Dhabi International Book Fair will take place at Adnec from May 23 to 29. Mona Al-Marzooqi / The National
This year's Abu Dhabi International Book Fair will take place at Adnec from May 23 to 29. Mona Al-Marzooqi / The National
This year's Abu Dhabi International Book Fair will take place at Adnec from May 23 to 29. Mona Al-Marzooqi / The National

Culture

Books

Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2022 announces dates: what to expect

The seven-day event will bring together some of the biggest names in the literary world with Germany chosen as this year's Guest of Honour

David Tusing

April 30, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

More than 400 events will be be held across seven days at this year's Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, which will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from May 23 to 29.

Organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi, the event, now in its 31st year, will bring together literary figures, Nobel laureates, academics and industry professionals from around the world, hosting more than 1,000 publishers from 80 countries.

The programme will include literary and cultural seminars, creative workshops, panel discussions, poetry evenings, educational events, book signings by 80 authors and children’s activities presented by renowned writers, experts and entertainers.

Germany will be Guest of Honour this year, and will be the focus of more than 15 cultural events, which will feature publishers, intellectuals and creators from the country. Special activities will include screenings of German films, as well as events that highlight collaborations between the German and Arab cultures.

Egyptian author Taha Hussein, known as the “Dean of Arabic Literature”, will be honoured as the Personality of the Year, in appreciation of his contribution to Arab culture, the ALC said. A special pavilion dedicated to Hussein will shed light on his accomplishments and cultural impact, narrating his life story in co-ordination with the Taha Hussein Museum in Egypt.

"The fair is key for the regional and international publishing sectors, presenting new opportunities and forging new partnerships for businesses and professionals in the industry from all over the world," said Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi.

New elements introduced this year include a comics corner as well as a lifestyle and a music programme. The Black Box Cinema, a miniature cinema developed by Emirati filmmaker Nawaf Al Janahi, will return after a four-year absence.

The first International Congress of Arabic Publishing and Creative Industries will also be held, where participants will discuss various ways to strengthen the book industry and advance the sector, in addition to exploring the latest trends and practices around Arabic content.

More information is available at adbookfair.com

Scroll through the gallery below for pictures from the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2021:

  • Emiratis and expatriates alike found their way through alleys of books at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, while parents were seen pushing prams with one hand and dragging a trolley full of books with the other.
    Emiratis and expatriates alike found their way through alleys of books at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, while parents were seen pushing prams with one hand and dragging a trolley full of books with the other.
  • The fair runs at Adnec from 9am to 10pm until May 3.
    The fair runs at Adnec from 9am to 10pm until May 3.
  • A man glances at a book at the fair.
    A man glances at a book at the fair.
  • The fair, being held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre until May 3, has attracted booksellers from all over the world.
    The fair, being held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre until May 3, has attracted booksellers from all over the world.
  • Booksellers from around the world have once again made the emirate their home for the week.
    Booksellers from around the world have once again made the emirate their home for the week.
  • Artist Fadi Fayad gets to work in the illustrators corner during the first day of the Abu Dhabi book fair.
    Artist Fadi Fayad gets to work in the illustrators corner during the first day of the Abu Dhabi book fair.
  • The Abu Dhabi Media stall at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.
    The Abu Dhabi Media stall at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.
  • Emiratis and expatriates alike found their way through alleys of books at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, while parents were seen pushing prams with one hand and dragging a trolley full of books with the other.
    Emiratis and expatriates alike found their way through alleys of books at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, while parents were seen pushing prams with one hand and dragging a trolley full of books with the other.
Key findings
  • Over a period of seven years, a team of scientists analysed dietary data from 50,000 North American adults.
  • Eating one or two meals a day was associated with a relative decrease in BMI, compared with three meals. Snacks count as a meal. Likewise, participants who ate more than three meals a day experienced an increase in BMI: the more meals a day, the greater the increase. 
  • People who ate breakfast experienced a relative decrease in their BMI compared with “breakfast-skippers”. 
  • Those who turned the eating day on its head to make breakfast the biggest meal of the day, did even better. 
  • But scrapping dinner altogether gave the best results. The study found that the BMI of subjects who had a long overnight fast (of 18 hours or more) decreased when compared even with those who had a medium overnight fast, of between 12 and 17 hours.
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Results

6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes (PA) Group 3 Dh175,000 (Dirt) 1,900m

Winner: Aatebat Al Khalediah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer).

7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m

Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Dubai Avenue, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner: My Catch, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile (TB) Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Golden Goal, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

Tomorrow 2021
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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1921

1888

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The Indo-Pacific
Main report

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Updated: October 12, 2022, 10:22 AM
LiteratureLiterary awardsAbu DhabiAbu Dhabi International Book Fair