At the 2023 edition of Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Image: Publishing Perspectives, Porter Anderson
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
Exhibitors from 85 Nations in 2023
The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, having closed its 32nd edition on May 28, today (June 8) is reporting that more than 1,300 exhibitors and publishers from at least 85 countries participated this year, with the show’s displays in the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center highlighting more than 500,000 titles in multiple languages.
Registration for the 2024 edition of the public-facing fair has been opened.
Less than two weeks after the 2o23 show closed, organizers based at the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center (ALC) report that they have 322 stand reservations in place, not including the large floor-anchoring government stands that tend to front the show at various arrival points for visitors.
The Abu Dhabi program has not reported attendance figures.
Those stands already registered for next year represent some 64 percent of the available booths, the organizers say, with around 44 percent of the already registered stands being taken by local publishers and other exhibitors.
In terms of international interest coming in at significant levels, the program cites:
- Ten percent of the interest coming from Egypt
- Seven percent from Turkey—this year’s guest of honor
- Seven percent from Lebanon
- Six percent from Syria
- Five percent from Saudi Arabia
The highest demand reportedly is for medium-sized stands that fun from 16 to 36 square meters (172 to 387 square feet. Stands in that size range account for some 50 percent of the requests so far.
Stands with sizes ranging between nine and 15 square meters are at 38 percent, while 12 percent of the interested exhibitors are asking for stands of more than 36 square meters. showed interest in larger stands exceeding 36 square meters.
Needless to say, the emirate’s decision to waive exhibition fees can be expected to be playing a role in the quick interest in next year’s show, and many exhibitors see it as a wise move to inquire and lock down their spaces early on the sprawling show floorplan.
The waived exhibition and participation fees are offered not only to local, Arab exhibitors but also to international publishers.
More from Publishing Perspectives on the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center is here, more on Arabic literature is here, and more on translation is here. More from us on the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is here.
Publishing Perspectives is the world media partner of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award. Our extended coverage of ADIBF 2022 is supported by the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.