So, what is there to do at this year’s Fair?
We have a huge cultural program. At the heart of every book is the author, and we have talks, readings and lectures at the Discussion Forum and on the Kitab sofa. Expect to see Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell, Indian novelist Amitav Ghosh and author and former Undersecretary General of the United Nations Shashi Tharoor. From the Arab world we have Raja Al Sanea, who is the author of Girls of Riyadh, and Elias Khoury, the famous Lebanese writer who is also involved in the Arab Booker Prize. We also have the Text Box; it’s like a little recording studio, or glass box, in which an author will read, and you can’t hear it unless you are wearing earphones.
Tell me about the Arab Booker. Has it been a success?
We call it the Arab Booker Prize, but actually it’s the International Prize for Arabic Fiction. Last year’s winner has been translated into many languages since he received the award, and there was a lot of intense attention on him afterwards.
What else is there to do?
We are going to have some famous chefs, who will give us cooking demonstrations, including Chef Ramsi from Lebanon, Chef Fatema Hal from Morocco and Chef Wan from Malaysia. We also have an Antiquarian Show, with booksellers from across the world, who will display and sell valuable books and documents. And there will be a big children’s corner with competitions and storytelling.
How has book publishing in Abu Dhabi changed?
Abu Dhabi has a lot of publishing activities: for instance, the Kalima (translation) project, and government publishers like Qalam promoting Emirati writers. Most of the publishing in the Arab word is done in places like Egypt, Lebanon and Syria, but there are problems with publishing in these countries.
Problems?
Censorship mainly. Abu Dhabi has far less strict censorship laws than other Middle Eastern countries. There is also a lot of pirating of books within the MENA Area. Kitab is working on this together with ADACH to find a solution. It is quite an issue.
How can you stop piracy?
First, the law; you need to enforce the laws, and you need to promote awareness. We need to work on this all the time, so we are organising an international copyright symposium in Abu Dhabi in 2010.
Why can’t I find a number of books in the UAE?
One thing that is missing in the Arab world is setting up a distribution system for books. We are working on this. It will allow the public to be able to get the books they want, when they want, and not just during the Book Fair. We need more book shops and better distribution. Kitab is working on this, as well as turning Abu Dhabi into a hub for publishing in the Arab world. Even publishers from other Arab counties are setting up here, as well as foreign publishers like Harper Collins. The Arab market is one that has not been discovered yet.
But the future of publishing is the E-book, surely?
For some kinds of publishing, such as knowledge, academic and scholarly publishing. These can surely benefit from e-book and online publications. Also dictionaries. But when it comes to novel reading, I don’t believe so, and I know a number of international publishers who agree. It’s because it is such a very different format. A printed book has a certain feel to it, which an e-book can never have. If you enjoy reading, you will never get this same pleasure from an e-book.
Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is at ADNEC from March 17-22
