Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, who earlier today officially opened the 25th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, ADIBF 2015, under the auspicious patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has commended the diligent efforts that went into organising the region's fastest-growing book fair.

Speaking at the event, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah said, "One of the most important cultural events in the country, the ADIBF has contributed to shaping awareness of consecutive Emirati generations and reflects the country's official orientation towards building the individual based on knowledge, science and education, which is the principle that the late Sheikh Zayed had stipulated at an early stage of the UAE's development as a nation. Our wise leadership is still devoted to this principle which balances between providing a decent life and allowing individual access to knowledge. One of the noticeable aspects of the ADIBF is that it offers an open space for a wide spectrum of cultural figures from across the world to establish dialogue and exchange ideas, making it an ideal platform for tolerance, acceptance and communication. Typically, these are the values that make the foundation of a culturally diverse Emirati society."

This year, ADIBF is marking its silver jubilee by celebrating the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as this year's focus personality through a series of seminars and panel discussions that highlight the elements of his vision and thought. The ADIBF 2015 also sheds light on the literary production of the Republic of Iceland, the guest of honour, through a series of lectures and seminars led by the country's most influential authors, poets and intellectuals. A special pavilion is also exhibiting some of the most important scientific and literary publications from this Nordic country with the participation of its most notable publishers.

Visiting the various enclosures at the fair, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah said, "Personally speaking, the ADIBF has always been a pre-eminent stop to look for major new publications in politics and literature, the areas of knowledge I am most keenly interested in. Therefore, I made sure that I visited the fair every year since my days as a student at the UAE University. My frequent visits have allowed me to trace the continuous development of the fair, its diversity and richness and the earnest efforts of its organisers to make it a highly professional event that attracts publishers from all over the world."

More than 600 influential international authors, intellectuals and media experts will discuss a wide variety of Arabic and international cultural scenes, and the programme will focus on enabling publishers through several specialised workshops that qualify participants to receive certificates, allowing them to start their own publishing businesses. Artistic works will be showcased at the Illustrator's Corner which will be dedicated to book covers, book illustrations and animation among other genres.

Commenting on the significance of this year's 25th anniversary Silver Jubilee event, Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Transport Department and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, said, "The late Sheikh Zayed encouraged us to establish a book fair at an early stage in the development of the UAE as a nation - a step that carried a compelling message regarding the future we are living today. Today, the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is an essential component of Abu Dhabi's identity."
Source: WAM