Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation to participate in the Frankfurt Book Fair 2016

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation – part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives – is set to take part in the 68th edition of the Frankfurt Book Fair on October 19-23, 2016. 

Represented by Qindeel Printing, Publishing and Distribution, the Foundation is keen to attend the Fair – the largest of its kind in the world – in order to maintain an effective presence in all major international forums concerning culture and books, as well as to strengthen the bonds of partnership with cultural institutions from around the world, and highlight the key role that MBRF plays in the dissemination and transfer of knowledge in the region and the world.

The Frankfurt Book Fair 2016 will bring together experts in publishing, printing, and copyrights from around the world. The 2015 instalment of the Fair saw up to 7,500 exhibitors from 110 countries.

His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, Managing Director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, said: “Our participation in this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair – represented by our partners at Qindeel – coincides with the ‘Year of Reading’ initiative announced by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, as well as the Reading Strategy 2026 adopted by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.”

HE bin Huwaireb went on to explain that these international platforms allow for an exchange of experiences, which, in turn, presents opportunities and opens up the prospects of joint cooperation with key stakeholders in the field of culture and reading from all over the world.

“We will take this opportunity to educate the Fair’s visitors about the Foundation’s initiatives and projects,” added HE bin Huwaireb, “which include initiatives in the fields of culture and knowledge that seek to build a knowledge-based society, and to establish a reading culture among all segments of society.”

The delegation’s agenda at the Book Fair includes a number of activities ranging from signing memoranda of understanding with Arab and international publishing houses, to promotions and book launches. The Foundation will announce the launch of several books and encyclopaedias, including the Encyclopaedia of Arab Narrative, the Encyclopaedia of Muslims in Sicily, and the Encyclopaedia of Rules for the Paralympics. Qindeel, for its part, will launch a book by former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, about education, among other new launches. 

Furthermore, young writers from the Dubai International Writing Program who took part in the writers’ exchange programme, will present their latest works. In addition to that, a cultural seminar will be arranged to highlight the history of Arab participation in international book fairs. 

Since its inception, the Foundation has launched several pilot initiatives in order to spread the culture of reading among all members of society, such as ‘My Family Reads’, and ‘Book in Minutes’. Over the past year, MBRF has been working to enhance these efforts, as well as to widen its scope of work to include different types of initiatives, including ‘Dubai Digital Library’, ‘Knowledge Chair’, ‘Audio Book’, and ‘Esteraht Sayedat (Ladies’ Lounge)’.