ABU DHABI, 27th May, 2022 (WAM) — The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair has, for years now, made it a tradition to select a “Personality of the Year”, around which its cultural programme is developed, a gesture to celebrate influential Arab and international icons in the fields of culture, literature and knowledge.
The move also complements Abu Dhabi’s dedicated efforts in honouring and presenting awards to talent and intellectuals.
In previous years, the fair celebrated numerous names who had left a mark on the local and international cultural scenes, including the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was a great supporter of culture, literature and intellectualism, as well as Abu Al Tayyib Al Mutanabbi; late Emirati poet Ousha Al Suwaidi; philosopher Ibn Arabi; philosopher Ibn Rushd (Averroes); and German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
In statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), several Arab writers and scholars affirmed that celebrating these distinguished literary and cultural figures during the fair reflects the UAE’s keenness to promote global and Arab culture, a noble calling that aligns with its rise as a global hub for intercultural dialogue, building on the values of tolerance and diversity that it promotes.
Poet and novelist Ali Abu Al Rish said the personalities honoured across the fair’s previous editions are exceptional role models who have helped advance the fields of thought and literature, earning their status as timeless icons in their respective fields.
Tunisian writer and poet Dr. Salah Al Deen Al Hammadi commended the fair’s celebration of such great icons, noting that it has become one of its main features that shows true appreciation to their creative outputs and contributions.
Sudanese poet Omar Ahmed Qaddour said intergenerational connections are key to knowledge development, with the efforts of new generations complementing those of who came before them.
This year’s edition of the fair is celebrating the late Taha Hussein, a key figure in Arabic literature, as its Personality of the Year.