Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) has actually revealed that the Arabic-Islamic philosopher Ibn Rushd will be the Personality of the Year at this year's Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF).

The occasion, which will occur from 27 April to 3 May at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), will commemorate influential cultural figures, both international and Arabic.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, ADIBF will aim to highlight Ibn Rushd's character in a dedicated pavilion that will display his life and legacy.

A part of the exhibit's cultural program will also be dedicated to discussing his character, influence and works.

Italy, the exhibit's visitor of honour, will likewise be commemorated through an integrated programme that includes cultural and professional events and activities for kids. Italy will likewise feature in the Cooking Corner and the Artists Corner, which will shed the light on the cultural discussion between Emiratis and Italians.

Italy will put its dedicated programme to highlight its literature through a series of talks from a group of popular authors, poets and academics. Italian publishers will likewise take part at a devoted pavilion showing the most important literary and scientific publications.

The Italian programme will likewise consist of a number of lectures and conversations with a variety of speakers specialising in the publishing sector and education. The topics include: 'Storytelling and history writing' by Valerio Massimo Manfredi; 'From Paper to the Screen: The Importance of Character' by Antonio Mancini; 'The Italy of Tomorrow: dream, illustrations and books for young people' talked about by Beatrice Masini and Lishiah Troysa; 'Saints, Navigators ... and poets? Italian poetry in the third centuries' with Valerio Magrelli; 'Based on true stories: When history motivates books' with Louis Garneray and 'On the doorstep of a New Renaissance: Reference books on the future of the art' with Melania Mazzucco and Vincenzo Trione.

The exhibit has reached an innovative level of professionalism making it the most enthusiastic and fastest-growing book fair in the local publishing market. Our honourable visitors have actually become more eager to culturally, expertly and knowledgably interact with us to match our main goal of establishing Abu Dhabi as an Arabian cultural capital and beacon.".