Saturday 17 / May / 2025
Muscat: The 29th edition of Muscat International Book Fair kicked off today at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center under the auspices of HH Sayyid Dr. Fahd Al Julanda Al Said, Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University (SQU).
The opening ceremony was attended by Sheikh Dr. Sultan Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah, Dr. Abdullah Nasser Al Harrasi, Minister of Information and Chairman of the Main Committee of Muscat International Book Fair.
The chief guest of the event toured the exhibition pavilions, which feature a wide array of cultural, intellectual, and scientific titles. The total number of listed publications reached 681,041, including 467,413 Arabic books and 213,610 foreign titles. The Omani collection comprises 27,464 books, while newly printed publications (2024-2025) account for 52,205 titles.
The exhibition includes dedicated spaces for children’s and family activities, an events stage, workshops, an Arabic language corner, and a children’s culture section. A total of 155 events are scheduled, featuring interactive and entertainment shows, youth initiatives, and puppet performances. Several participating pavilions have also set up cultural cafés.
The chief guest also toured the Fair’s guest of honor, the North Al Sharqiyah Governorate’s pavilion which highlights the governorate’s local culture, history, prominent figures, scientific and humanitarian achievements, tourist destinations, and modern lifestyle aspects.
The Ministry of Information is participating with four pavilions representing the Oman News Agency, the General Directorate of Digital Media (Ayn Platform and Media Portal), the General Directorate of Publications and Artistic Works, and the General Directorate of External Media (Media Center).
Ibrahim Saad Bishan, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to the Sultanate of Oman, stated that the Kingdom is participating in this year’s exhibition with 38 publishing houses as part of the Saudi Cultural Days. Several cultural events will also be held to celebrate Omani-Saudi relations, reflecting initiatives by the Omani-Saudi Coordination Council to strengthen cultural cooperation.
On his turn Mahmoud Yahya Al Dhahli, Governor of North Al Sharqiyah, emphasized that the governorate’s participation as guest of honor marks a significant cultural milestone, showcasing its literary, tourism, economic, and heritage treasures. The pavilion features an AI-powered platform to promote the governorate and a children’s corner dedicated to the Omani identity. The governorate is organizing 15 diverse events, including seminars and lectures on literature, sports, education, and tourism.
Furthermore, Ahmed Saud Al Rawahi, Director of the Muscat International Book Fair, noted that this year’s edition, themed "Cultural Diversity: Enriching Civilizations," aims to attract global cultural figures to foster international dialogue. He highlighted the distinguished presence of Sheikh Dr. Sultan Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council in the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah, who launched his book ‘The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman: Events in Annals from 1497 to 1757’.
Fadhil Hussein Ahmed, Sharjah Pavilion official, elaborated that ‘The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman: Events in Annals from 1497 to 1757’ comes in 21-volumes Arabic and English versions. Each volume contains 400-600 pages with the total number of pages standing at 10,500. The book offers detailed political, economic, religious, and social records, serving as a vital reference for researchers.
Moreover, Jassim Ahmed, Director of Libraries at the State of Qatar’s Ministry of Culture, said that Qatar is participating with four publishing houses. The participation, he affirmed, aims to strengthen cultural ties with Oman and showcase Qatari intellectual output.
Khalifa Al Rabah, Director of Book Exhibits at Kuwait’s National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters, emphasized the exhibition’s regional significance and Kuwait’s commitment to cultural exchange, particularly as Kuwait prepares to be the 2025 Arab Capital of Culture and Media.
It is worth noting that the 29th edition of Muscat International Book Fair hosts 674 publishing houses from 35 countries, including 640 direct participants and 34 represented by agents.
