Encouraging more children to read is a key theme of this year’s Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), reflecting the mission of organiser KITAB (a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage – ADACH - and the Frankfurt Book Fair).

Central to today’s programme was a seminar entitled ‘Let’s Read! Creative Examples of Promoting Reading among Children from Germany, France and the UAE’. Experts Linda de Vos (from the Children’s Public Library, Frankfurt, Germany) and Hasmig Chahinian (French National Centre for Children’s Literature, Arab World division) shared their experiences across both regions aand presented results of a workshop held in cooperation with the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) Women’s Campus Abu Dhabi, the Goethe Institute, the Alliance Française and the French and German Embassies, which was aimed at parents and teachers. With more than 60% of the region’s population aged under 30, the educational development of the younger generation in the Arab world is key to its development. This session explored creative ways to encourage more reading by young people and directly involved students from HCT.

The Discussion Forum included sessions with Algerian author Dr Wasseeni al-Araj hosting ‘Writing and its value in the Arab World’ with Jamal al-Ghitani (Egypt), Badrya Bishr (KSA) and Dr Nazir al-Adma (Syria). The speakers discussed the state of writing in the region and its influences with today’s reading generation.

Also proving popular with visitors, the ‘KITAB Sofa’ showcased short listed authors from the inaugural International Prize for Arabic Fiction, which were announced earlier in the week.

Other seminars aimed at book publishing professionals included the presentation of Cairo based series professional trainings, promoting the translation of literature from a European perspective, and online media.

KiITAB has announced new timings for ‘ladies only’ opening this weekend. Saturday, March 15 will be open for ladies only from 10am – 1pm. The Fair will be accessible to the general public again from 4 - 9pm as scheduled.