Abu Dhabi to host first International Congress of Arabic Publishing and Creative Industries

• Published date: 20 May 2022
• Publication title: LETA

The first International Congress of Arabic Publishing and Creative Industries will take place on 22nd May, 2020, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

Organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism-Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the event is part of Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF 2022), which will run from 23rd to 29th May at the same venue.

The Congress will bring together 300 experts from around the world representing international companies including Disney+, TikTok, World Bank, Rakuten Kobo and The New York Times to discuss how the publishing industry can evolve to nurture the growth of Arabic content.

Congress highlights will include special guest speakers, including Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, President of the International Publishers Association (IPA); Nicholas Carr, Pulitzer Prize finalist; New York Times bestselling author, Rakuten Kobo CEO Michael Tamblyn; and Ann Hiatt, a bestselling author and Silicon Valley veteran.

Another highlight will be a panel discussion entitled 'Arabic Media Crossover: Adapting Books into Audio, Film, and Games' featuring Hollywood screenwriter and podcast host Todd Gallicano; Maha Abdullah, MENA Localisation Consultant for Disney+ Streaming Services; and Jonathan Knight, General Manager of Games at The New York Times Moderated by Michael Garin, Director-General of the Creative Media Authority, the session will explore how the regional publishing industry can maximise original Arabic content while maintaining its cultural distinctiveness, as streaming video becomes the main source of content for users around the world.

Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of ALC, said, "We are proud to host the inaugural Arabic International Congress of Publishing and Creative Industries, an initiative of the Abu...