Big Bad Wolf Books (BBW Books), the world’s biggest book sale was back in Dubai for its fourth edition, held at the state-of-the-art Dubai Studio City from 7 to 16 April. Book lovers and avid readers flocked to the venue in droves to browse over 1 million books that were up for grabs at unbeatable discounts of up to 90 percent, with some titles costing as little as 2 dirhams.
Organised in collaboration with strategic partner Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the 2023 edition of BBW Books was bigger, bolder, and more exciting than the previous ones, since its launch in the UAE in 2018. Books across genres ranging from thrillers, fantasy and sci-fi, classics and literature, romance, and general fiction to arts and photography, biographies and memoirs, business and economics, cookbooks, health and wellness, history, nature, sports, and travel, to popular children’s books, including best-sellers, were on display.
HH Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Member of the Dubai Council inaugurated the exhibition. She was briefed on the diverse range of books and publications on display, reflecting Dubai’s and the UAE’s rich cultural diversity and its emergence as a regional hub for the publishing industry. She also met with the organizers and commended their efforts in creating a dynamic knowledge environment that fosters reading and lifelong learning.
Sheikha Latifa also underpinned the goals of BBW Books and their synergy with Dubai’s cultural vision which seeks to position the emirate as an international centre for art and culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent. “By promoting a culture of reading and intellectual exchange, the book sale helps realize the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which is centered on building a society that is inclusive, dynamic, and full of possibilities for all,” she explained.
“Since its inception, the event has emerged as a vital hub of cultural exchange, bringing together individuals from all walks of life and from across the globe to explore the power of books, ideas, and knowledge. With its rich and diverse collection of exhibits and programmes, Big Bad Wolf Books has succeeded in attracting creators, readers, researchers, and thinkers from a wide range of fields and disciplines, offering them a vibrant and strong platform for intellectual and creative exchange,” she added.
Launched in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2009, as the brainchild of BookXcess’ founders Andrew Yap and Jacqueline Ng, the primary mission of BBW Books is to cultivate reading habits, increase literacy worldwide, and build a new generation of readers by making books more affordable and accessible to everyone. Since its inception, BBW Books has visited more than 37 cities in 15 countries. The events have attracted more than 6.5 million visitors, selling more than 31 million books.
