Stand space bookings at this year's Abu Dhabi Book Fair have almost doubled compared to a year ago, according to a German company which has just taken over management of the event, according to dpa. The Frankfurt Book Fair company said Friday it aimed to make the Gulf fair, which begins Saturday and lasts till April 7, into the principal book show in the Middle East and North Africa. The same company runs the world's top book fair, held every October in Frankfurt, Germany. The 17th Abu Dhabi Book Fair features 399 publishers and other vendors from 46 nations. They have rented nearly 6,000 metres of stand space. Last year's fair had 374 exhibitors from 20 nations. Chief executive Juergen Boos said that growth demonstrated the success of his own company's internationalization. Frankfurt Book Fair has a contract to manage the Abu Dhabi fair, which appeals to booksellers, authors and the general public.
