QNA
Doha
The 33rd edition of the Doha International Book Fair kicked off under theme ‘Knowledge Builds Civilizations’.
The book fair will continue until May 18 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre.
This year’s fair witnesses the largest international participation ever, with more than 515 publishing houses from 42 countries showcasing over 180,000 new titles across various fields of knowledge and sciences. Additionally, there is broader cultural participation from embassies of sisterly and friendly countries.
Oman is the guest of honour of this edition, presenting a special pavilion and a diverse cultural programme highlighting authentic Omani heritage, intellectual production and literature, along with various popular and artistic presentations.
Several dignitaries and officials expressed their admiration for the fair, affirming that it reinforces Qatar’s position on the map of Arab and international culture.
Minister of Transport HE Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti said the fair that the continuous evolution in terms of participation size, organisation and creativity in designs at the fair year after year indicates that books hold a significant place in Qatar.
He added that readers eagerly seek knowledge from its original sources, which solidifies the country’s cultural standing regionally and internationally.
Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs HE Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi said the fair underscores Qatar’s interest in culture, creativity and intellectual development through books, which remain the most noble sources of knowledge and sciences despite all developments.
For his part, Said bin Sultan Al Busaidi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture in Oman, described the relations between Qatar and Oman as deep-rooted, emphasising that the cultural cooperation between the two concerned parties has been substantial and continuous for decades. He noted that Oman’s selection as the guest of honour this year crowns these strong relations.
He expressed utmost happiness at Oman’s selection for this edition, affirming that this choice reflects the strong bond between the two countries.
Busaidi explained that Oman’s rich cultural, intellectual and literary programme, along with the blend of traditional and modern music in its presentations, offers a distinctive content for the audience in Qatar.
A number of ambassadors expressed their admiration for the exhibition and its enlightening and cultural role, locally and regionally, as it offers diverse sources of knowledge, arts and literature.
Ambassador of Kuwait to Qatar HE Khaled Badr Al Mutairi said the fair provides an annual opportunity to showcase the cultural inventory of different countries.He emphasised that the fair allows visitors to access the latest and most important releases from Arab and foreign publishers.
Ambassador of Yemen to Qatar HE Rajeh Badi described the Doha International Book Fair as a distinguished cultural and educational event, praising the splendid opening of the fair, which has become an annual landmark and a cultural beacon not only at the national level, but also across the entire region.
He added that the fair has shown continuous improvement from year to year, becoming increasingly unique in terms of the titles presented, which he had the opportunity to preview.He pointed out that the fair includes numerous titles that attract readers interested in culture and books.
Regarding Yemen’s participation in the event, the Yemeni ambassador said that his country is participating through its General Authority for Books with distinguished titles from ancient historical books and publications.
Ambassador of Turkiye to Qatar HE Dr Mustafa Goksu highlighted the significant development and diversity in the organisation and content of the Doha International Book Fair, noting that the fair enriches the literary scene and cultural diversity.
He highlighted that the fair provides visitors with ample opportunities to delve into various fields of knowledge presented by different publishers worldwide, suitable for all age groups.
Regarding Turkiye’s participation in the fair, the ambassador said that about 20 libraries are participating in this edition of the fair, offering various types of literature and knowledge from Turkiye.
The 33rd Doha International Book Fair features great participation from Qatari publishers as part of efforts to support the publishing and creativity industries.
Among the participating publishers are Roza Publishing House, Dar Al Watad for Publishing and Distribution, Qatar University Press, Katara Publishing House, HBKKU Press, Dar Al Sharq For Printing, Publishing, and Distribution, Dar Al Thaqafa for Printing, Press, Publishing, and Distribution, Dar Nabja for Publishing and Distribution, Dar Nawa, Lusail University Press and the Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies, and Qatar Museums, with their publications.
The exhibition also enjoys distinguished Gulf, Arab and international participation, represented by Kuwait’s National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Culture, the Sharjah Book Authority, the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, Saudi Arabia’s Institute of Public Administration and Taibah University. Also among the exhibitors will be the ministries of culture in Morocco, Algeria, Yemen and Egypt, China and Azerbaijan, and a number of publishers’ unions in Mauritania, Jordan and Turkey, along with US and UK publishers.
