MCE Participates at Abu Dhabi International Book Fair

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating with a special pavilion at the 34th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2025, taking place from April 26 to May 5, as part of the Council’s mission to promote peace, foster the values of dialogue and tolerance, and build bridges of cooperation among people of diverse races, cultures, and beliefs.

Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, affirmed that the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair serves as a leading intellectual platform for enhancing cultural and intellectual communication.

 He emphasized that the 34th edition of the Fair continues to strengthen its standing as a global hub of intellectual and cultural exchange, bringing together prominent writers, publishers, and cultural institutions from across the Arab world and beyond. It offers an invaluable opportunity for creatives, intellectuals, and thinkers to deepen cross-cultural and civilizational engagement.

Abdelsalam noted that this year, the Muslim Council of Elders’ participation focuses on a range of critical intellectual and cultural themes through the presentation of over 250 diverse publications by Al-Hokama Publishing, alongside a rich program of cultural seminars and events. For the first time, the Council will also introduce “Al-Hokama Podcast,” an innovative platform hosting in-depth conversations with prominent figures from the fields of thought, culture, literature, media, and religious leadership.

The pavilion will showcase a selection of the latest 2025 releases by Al-Hokama Publishing, including more than 20 works by His Eminence Professor Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar. Key titles include “Al-Qawl Al-Tayeb,” “Reflections from My Old Notebooks,” and “Heritage and Renewal,” alongside other significant works such as “Love in the Holy Qur’an,” by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad Al-Hashimi, member of the Muslim Council of Elders; “The Pope and the Grand Imam: A Thorny Path — A Testimony to the Birth of the Document on Human Fraternity,” authored by Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam; “Principles of Understanding and Dialogue in Thought and Language,” by Dr. Mustafa Benhamza, member of the Council; and “Muslims at a Crossroads,” by the late Dr. Mahmoud Hamdi Zaqzouq. A variety of titles published by the Al-Hokama Center for Peace Research, along with a collection of newly translated works, will also be available.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion will host a series of intellectual and cultural seminars addressing crucial topics, including intra-Islamic dialogue and the concept of the unity of the Muslim Ummah and its shared destiny, a reflection on the “Call for the People of Qiblah: Objectives and Outcomes,” intellectual security in confronting hate speech, extremism, and Islamophobia, the role of educational institutions in fostering dialogue and respect for others. 

Other seminars will feature interesting themes such as the role of women in raising generations committed to coexistence and peace, the foundations of dialogue and coexistence in Islamic heritage, youth contributions to promoting a culture of dialogue, the role of media in fostering mutual understanding and coexistence, and the ethics of artificial intelligence.

For the first time, the pavilion will also feature “Al-Hokama Podcast,” offering engaging dialogues that explore key intellectual and cultural issues, providing forward-looking perspectives through conversations with a distinguished group of thinkers, cultural figures, media professionals, and religious leaders.