International Congress Of Arabic Publishing And Creative Industries Inaugurates Its Third Edition In Abu Dhabi

The third edition of the International Congress of Arabic Publishing and Creative Industries commenced on Sunday, 28 April 2024, in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant moment for the cultural and creative sectors. Hosted by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) and themed around 'Technological Transformations in the Publishing Industry and Drivers of Change', this event sets the stage for the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) 2024. The book fair, under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is scheduled from 29 April to 5 May at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, inaugurated the event, which attracted speakers from across 50 countries. The Congress aims to discuss sector developments, share global best practices, and foster partnerships to promote Arab content worldwide. Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, highlighted the event's role in encouraging investment in Arabic culture and supporting creative industry projects.

The Congress featured sessions on various topics crucial to publishing and creative industries, including cultural and economic growth drivers, public-private collaboration, and the relationship between literature and film adaptations. It also explored storytelling through gaming, evolving consumer tastes in multi-platform content creation, fostering reading among the next generation, and the impact of generative AI on humanity.

Support for young talent was a key focus, with programmes covering extended reality in storytelling, screenplay techniques, social media promotion strategies, and guidelines for setting up a professional home studio. The event also delved into visual storytelling through comics and visual novels, offering insights into market trends and consumer preferences.

Matchmaking sessions for literary and film agents facilitated discussions on publishing rights and text-to-visual conversions. A competition highlighted how technology can enhance Arabic language learning and creative talent among UAE youth. The exhibition and demonstration theatre provided interactive experiences with advanced publishing technologies, including augmented and virtual reality applications.

This year's Congress not only served as a platform for knowledge exchange but also as a catalyst for technological innovation in the publishing sector. It underscored the importance of embracing new technologies to ensure the growth and sustainability of the Arabic language and culture in the digital age.

With inputs from WAM