Making Tracks for Abu Dhabi

It will be interesting to see if the international economic downturn has much impact on the 19th annual Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, to be held this year on March 17th to 22nd.

Dubbed the “Middle East’s fastest growing book fair,” the 2008 event hosted 482 exhibitors from 42 countries. The Gulf News sounds optimistic:

Hundreds of book publishers from around the world are due to take to participate in this year’s Abu Dhabi book fair from March 17 to 22, organizers said.

The 19th edition of the fair is expected to be the largest this year with variety cultural programmes said Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazroui, General Manager of Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (Adach): “The fair is becoming one of the fast growing book fairs in the Middle East and it is becoming more professional and attracts more publishers and intellectuals” he said.

The Web site for the event assures potential visitors that Abu Dhabi is plenty safe and that, should they decided to make the trek, they won’t lack for activities:

Abu Dhabi is fast becoming a beacon of culture in the Middle East, North Africa and Central and Western Asia. Recent developments include a campus of the Sorbonne, a future New York University Campus, branches of Sotheby’s and Christies and a satellite of the New York Film Academy. In addition, plans have been finalised for the Saadiyad Island Cultural District in Abu Dhabi, including the first branch of the Louvre outside of Paris and the world’s largest Guggenheim Museum.