The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority is continuing to strengthen its presence on the international cultural stage through its participation in the official UAE delegation at the 32nd Beijing International Book Fair, where the United Arab Emirates is the event's guest of honour in the Chinese capital. Through its participation in the fair, which runs until 21 June, the authority aims to highlight the vitality of the local cultural scene via a diverse cultural programme combining the launch of new publications, the organisation of specialised panel discussions, and professional meetings with Chinese publishers and cultural institutions. This contributes to opening new horizons for local talents, enabling them to reach new markets and consolidate their presence on the global map — in line with Dubai Culture's priorities and its cultural responsibilities aimed at broadening cultural cooperation, promoting international knowledge exchange, and cementing Dubai's position as a global cultural hub, a cradle of creativity, and a gathering point for talents.

In this context, the authority is showcasing a selection of books and publications highlighting the creativity of a distinguished group of Emirati writers, including 10 new titles released as part of the first phase of the 'UAE: People and Legacy' project, which falls under the 'Published in Dubai' programme. The project aims to document the biographies of a selection of influential and active Emirati personalities on the local scene, while highlighting elements of Emirati culture, heritage, and history, and presenting them to new generations in a manner that is both accurate and engaging.

As part of its participation in the 'Emirati House' programme, themed 'Community and People', the authority is organising a series of dialogue and interactive sessions aimed at spotlighting the richness and diversity of the local cultural scene. Within the 'Creative Industries and the Future of Culture' track, the authority held the session 'From Story to Creative Content: Emirati Icons in Children's Literature', with the participation of Iman Al Hammadi, Director of the Literature Department at Dubai Culture; Dr. Abdullah Al Sharhan, Vice Chairman of the Board of the Emirates Publishers Association and founder of Ajyal Publishing House; and Emirati author Afra Mahmoud. The session, moderated by Dr. Basma Younis, a cultural adviser at the Ministry of Culture, explored the importance of employing Emirati symbols, figures, and heritage elements in producing literary and creative content for children, in a way that strengthens new generations' connection to their national identity and community values. It also discussed ways of transforming stories inspired by local heritage and cultural symbols into contemporary narratives capable of developing cultural and creative industries.

Iman Al Hammadi will also participate in the session 'Encouraging Reading in Diverse Communities', organised by the authority in coordination with the Emirates Council for Young People's Books on 21 June within the 'Investing in People' track. The session spotlights the experiences of the UAE and China in developing reading promotion policies and building knowledge communities, and presents leading national initiatives and programmes in this field, enabling the exchange of expertise and successful models, and exploring new avenues for cultural and knowledge cooperation between the two sides.

The authority is also presenting its experience at the 'Global Reading Festival' session, organised in partnership with the Beijing International Book Fair, showcasing its work in creating an environment that fosters reading and knowledge through an integrated system of cultural initiatives and projects targeting various segments of society. Al Hammadi will additionally participate in the event 'Where Words Meet the World – The Emirati Literary Evening', which brings together a select group of writers and intellectuals from the UAE and the People's Republic of China to exchange views on literature and translation and their role in promoting cultural rapprochement, and to highlight culture's capacity to build bridges of communication and foster understanding between peoples.

The authority's delegation programme at the fair also includes a series of professional visits and meetings with a number of Chinese publishing houses, libraries, and printing establishments, with the aim of learning about best global practices in publishing and printing and exploring pioneering experiences in developing cultural and creative industries. The delegation will also hold meetings with a select group of translators, academics, publishers, and representatives of Chinese cultural institutions to discuss opportunities for cooperation in translation, publishing, and knowledge exchange, contributing to broadening cultural cooperation between the two sides and opening new horizons for joint projects.

In a comment, Iman Hassan Al Hammadi, Director of the Literature and Knowledge Department at the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, affirmed that Dubai Culture's participation within the UAE delegation at the Beijing International Book Fair 2026 reflects the authority's commitment to supporting the presence of Emirati culture at international events and exhibitions, highlighting the qualitative momentum and continuous development witnessed by the literature and publishing sectors, as well as expanding areas of cooperation with cultural institutions and publishing houses around the world. She said: "The UAE's hosting as guest of honour of the Beijing International Book Fair represents an important milestone that reflects the standing of Emirati culture on the world stage. It also reaffirms the strength of the cultural and knowledge ties that unite the UAE and the People's Republic of China. Through its participation in the 'Emirati House', Dubai Culture seeks to highlight its projects and initiatives aimed at empowering creators and supporting the literature and publishing sectors, and to explore new opportunities for cooperation in translation, content development, and knowledge exchange."

Al Hammadi noted that the fair provides an important platform for building professional partnerships and exchanging expertise with a distinguished group of publishers, translators, and cultural institutions from around the world, contributing to broadening the horizons of cooperation and enhancing the reach of Emirati cultural output to a global audience. This participation also provides quality opportunities to introduce the cultural and creative scene in Dubai and to highlight the contributions of local talents to the cultural and creative industries, which represent one of the key drivers of the emirate's creative economy.