The Zayed National Museum, serving as the national museum of the United Arab Emirates, has announced its participation in the upcoming Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), scheduled to run from September 13 to 18, 2026. Through a curated program of publications and interactive activities, the museum aims to introduce families and young audiences to the country's rich historical narrative and cultural heritage.
A central feature of the museum's exhibition presence will be its dynamic storytelling sessions, which are designed to make historical narratives and museum pieces accessible to children. Among these is "Sailing the Magan Boat," a session highlighting the maritime history of the UAE and focusing on a reconstructed vessel from the Bronze Age that is housed in the museum’s Al Liwan. Another featured session, titled "Rashed, Wadha and the Blue Qur’an," follows two siblings as they discover the Blue Qur’an, a highly valuable manuscript and a cornerstone artifact within the Zayed National Museum's collection.
Alongside the storytelling events, the museum's stand at the book fair will host various hands-on workshops. These creative sessions are tailored to help younger visitors connect with the UAE's heritage using drawing, sensory exploration, and paper engineering. Offered activities include crafting animal-themed comics, designing personalized tactile charms for use as bookmarks, and assembling interactive pop-up pages that represent the Magan Boat. Through these initiatives, the museum aims to foster creativity and narrative skills among young attendees.
