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Muscat - The 28th edition of Muscat International Book Fair will be held from 21 February to 2 March, said Sayyid Said Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture.
The opening ceremony will be held under the auspices of Dr. Mohammed Said Al Maamari, Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs.
During a press conference held at the Ministry of Information today, Al Busaidi said that A'Dhahirah Governorate will be the guest of honour at the book fair this year. He added that a special pavilion and a number of programmes will be dedicated to A'Dhahirah Governorate’s intellectual and cultural history.
The book fair will host a group of prominent intellectuals and media experts to enliven the cultural scene during the 11-day extravaganza.
Outlining the data of the book fair, Ahmed Saud Al Rawahi, Director of the Muscat International Book Fair, said that 847 publishing houses this year from 34 countries will exhibit their literary products at the book fair. Among these, 676 publishers will participate directly and 171 others through agents, Al Rawahi explained.
As many as 622,000 book titles and publications are listed on the site, said Al Rawahi, noting that about 269,000 of these appear in Arabic and 200,000 in foreign languages. The Omani collection includes about 19,000 books, of which 35,989 are new books printed in 2023 and 2024, he added.
Al Rawahi pointed out that a special section has been allocated for “children and family” events and activities, including a drama shows, workshops, a language corner, a children’s museum corner and a green corner. “Cultural cafés have also been established in a number of participating pavilions,” he said.
Al Rawahi observed that the State of Palestine will be strongly present at Muscat International Book Fair, notably through events that focus on the Palestinian cause.
The theme of the book fair this year will be artificial intelligence (AI), said Al Rawahi, adding that many cultural events and activities will highlight AI advantages.
For his part, Mohammed Said Al Balushi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information, said that media coverage will be on a daily basis through various podiums and platforms that will establish live relay of the book fair’s events and activities.
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