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- The fair will run from Sept. 26 until Oct. 5
RIYADH: The Riyadh International Book Fair got underway at King Saud University on Thursday under the theme “Riyadh Reads.”
This year’s fair — organized by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission — features more than 2,000 publishing houses from more than 30 countries, spread across 800 pavilions.
The fair will run from Thursday, Sept. 26 until Saturday, Oct. 5 with local and international publishers from around the world.
The fair will also feature cultural experiences with more than 200 events suited to all ages, such as seminars, panel discussions, lectures, poetry evenings, theatrical performances and workshops addressing a wide range of topics.
There will also be a dedicated zone for children aged 3 to 12 years, which has been put together with educational and entertaining activities for families to participate in.
The children’s area will feature a special section featuring works by Saudi authors and platforms for book signings, offering the public the chance to meet their favorite authors and get their latest releases autographed.
Saudi, other Arab and international cultural organizations and institutions will be present, making it a key platform for publishers, intellectual and cultural exchange, and a meeting point for writers, thinkers and culture and book enthusiasts from within and outside the Kingdom.
Each year the Riyadh International Book Fair welcomes a country as the guest of honor — last year it was Oman and this year is Qatar.
The fair will offer visitors an in-depth experience of Qatar’s literary and intellectual achievements, cultural heritage, history and diverse arts.
The Qatari pavilion will also display manuscripts and publications from the Qatari Ministry of Culture, and prominent Qatari cultural figures will participate in a diverse and vibrant cultural program.
The book fair this year has expanded too. The theme last year was “An Inspiring Destination” and more than 1,800 publishing houses participated.
The fair is open to the public daily from 11 a.m. to midnight, except on Fridays, when it opens from 2 p.m. to midnight.