Abu Dhabi International Book Fair and Frankfurt Book Fair Highlight Growing Global Publishing Ties

Abu Dhabi and Frankfurt Book Fairs explore global publishing partnerships, cultural exchange, AI in publishing, and the future of literary translation.
on Sep 18, 2026

The 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair brought together publishing leaders from the UAE and Germany to discuss cultural exchange, international partnerships, and the evolving role of book fairs in the global publishing industry.

The session, titled Book Fairs as Global Gateways: Abu Dhabi and Frankfurt, explored the longstanding relationship between the two major international book fairs, which dates back to the early 2000s. It focused on how such partnerships can create new opportunities for publishers, writers, translators, and the wider book trade.

Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and Director of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, and Juergen Boos, President and CEO of the Frankfurt Book Fair, discussed the role of book fairs in strengthening cultural exchange and expanding the reach of literature across borders.

Al Tunaiji highlighted the Abu Dhabi fair’s evolution from a marketplace for books into a platform for knowledge, creativity, and international publishing partnerships. He also spoke about the potential of artificial intelligence to support publishing and translation, while emphasising the importance of human creativity and the personal contributions of authors and translators.

Boos underlined the need for greater collaboration among Arab publishers, stronger distribution networks across the region, and more translation of Arabic literature into international languages. He also stressed the importance of encouraging children to discover the joy of reading.

The discussion reflected the growing role of international book fairs in connecting publishing markets, supporting literary exchange, and helping stories reach readers across linguistic and geographical boundaries.