The fifth edition of the Al Dhafra Book Festival 2024, organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), concluded successfully at Madinat Zayed Park. Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the festival attracted around 44,000 visitors, marking a 15% increase from last year.
Over seven days, the festival showcased 50,000 titles from 100 local and Arab publishing houses, doubling the number of participants from the previous year. The theme 'Celebrating a Cultural Legacy' was brought to life through 200 cultural, artistic, musical, and entertainment events for all ages.
Dr. Ali Bin Tamim, Chairman of ALC, emphasized the festival's role in promoting the local publishing industry and the Arabic language. He noted the strong public engagement and the festival's success in highlighting Al Dhafra's rich heritage and empowering youth.
This year's festival introduced four new events, including 'Hadirat Baynounah', which recreated a traditional heritage scene with storytellers and Arabic coffee. 'Flavourful Nights' offered live cooking sessions, while the 'Youth League' engaged young people in sports competitions. The 'Musical Programme' featured performances by artists like Qusai Almamari and culminated in a concert by the 'Arab Choir'.
The 'Poetry Nights: Voices Loved by People' returned with a new format, 'The Poem Secret', featuring poets like Sultan Al Refaisa. The historic Al Dhafra Fort hosted the Sard Al Thahab Award ceremony, honoring narrators of biographies and folk narratives.
The festival offered a comprehensive program for children and youth, including the 'Alpha Corner' with workshops in doll making, pottery painting, and traditional crafts. The event was supported by strategic partners like the Al Dhafra Region Municipality and the Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination.
The Al Dhafra Book Festival is an event where people come together to celebrate books, culture, and heritage. It takes place in Al Dhafra, a region in the United Arab Emirates.
Madinat Zayed Park is a large park located in the city of Madinat Zayed, which is in the Al Dhafra region of the United Arab Emirates. It's a place where events like the book festival are held.
The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre is an organization that works to promote the Arabic language and culture. They organize events like the Al Dhafra Book Festival to encourage people to read and learn about Arabic heritage.
Hadirat Baynounah is a new feature or event introduced at the Al Dhafra Book Festival. It likely focuses on a specific aspect of culture or literature, but the exact details are not provided.
Flavourful Nights is another new highlight at the festival. It probably involves food or cultural experiences related to taste, adding a fun and interactive element to the event.
Dr. Ali Bin Tamim is a person who praised the festival. He is likely an important figure in promoting Arabic culture and language, possibly associated with the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre.
The Sard Al Thahab Award is a special award given during the festival. It might recognize achievements in literature or contributions to Arabic culture.
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