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The 17th edition of the Amman International Book Fair (AIBF), underway from October 5-14, 2017 is hosting the UAE as its Guest of Honour. Themed ‘We All Read… Culture Is Life’, the event features 350 publishers from 18 countries and has an extensive programme of poetry and short story evenings, intellectual seminars, film screening and children’s activities.
This year, AIBF is honouring Jordanian author and critic Ibrahim Al Saafeen in recognition of his outstanding cultural contributions and his impact on the intellectual and academic spheres in Jordan and the Arab world. An elite group of Arab authors, poets and intellectuals are also participating at the fair, including Emirati poet Abdullah Al Hadiya, Iraqi critic Awwad Ali, Lebanese thinker Ali Harb, Syrian author Faris Al Thahabi, Egyptian writer Mahmoud Al Ghetani and Omani poet Aisha Al Saifi.
As Guest of Honour at this year’s AIBF, the UAE has organised a rich cultural and artistic programme that features a spectrum of activities and a host of guests, in particular Emirati publishers, some of whom are participating in the event for the first time. The activities include a discussion panel on publishing in the UAE and Jordan and a seminar titled ‘Reading as a culture in the UAE.’ Ali Al Shaali and Noah Al Hammadi will be taking part in a panel on the publishing industry in the UAE, while Maitha Al Khayat and Badriya Al Shamsi are hosting a seminar on children’s literature.
