Under patronage of Custodian of Two Holy Mosques.. Riyadh International Book Fair launched with Egyptian participation
Ashraf AboArafe
Riyadh, October 1: Under the aegis of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan launched on Thursday evening the Riyadh International Book Fair 2021.
Iraq is this year’s Guest of Honor, with the country being represented by its Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Dr. Hassan Nazim and Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abdulsattar Hadi Al Janabi.
The opening ceremony was also attended by a Saudi, Arab and international cultural figures and leaders, led by Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Prince Poet Abdulrahman bin Musaed bin Abdul Aziz, Counselor Turki bin Abdulmohsen Al Sheikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, Dr. Fahd bin Abdullah Al Samari, the Secretary-General of the King Abdul Aziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), Dr. Ines Abdel Dayem, Egyptian Minister of Culture, and Dr. Mohammed Hassan Alwan, CEO of the Saudi Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission at the Ministry of Culture, as well as ambassadors, ministers and cultural officials from several countries.
Following the official inauguration by the Minister of Culture, the dignitaries and guests toured the pavilions and facilities of the fair, the largest in the history of Saudi Arabia, with the participation of more than 1,000 local, regional and international publishing houses from 30 countries.
The 10-day fair, held under the theme “New Destination, New Chapter”, is the first to be organized by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture. Held along the “Riyadh Front”, the renowned event will highlight the breadth of Saudi culture and creativity on the world stage, while promoting greater passion for reading in the community and offering new opportunities to boost awareness and knowledge about diverse cultures, literature, and arts.
On October 4-5, the fair will host the Publisher’s Conference, the first of its kind in the Kingdom, to discuss the bright future of the publishing industry in the Arab world and ways to support its continued growth. In the discussion sessions of the conference, more than 40 publishers and speakers will debate various aspects of the industry, including the process of rights transfer, and the opportunities provided by multi-lingual translation.
The cultural program features elite Saudi, Arab and international writers, thinkers and critics who will take part in more than 120 events that include seminars, lectures and workshops encompassing diverse fields of cultural creativity.
The “Book Talk” will host elite authors and influencers who will talk about their experiences and inspirations in writing. They include Prince Turki Al Faisal, American author Jordan Belfort, and Chris Gardner, the US author of the famous book “The Pursuit of Happyness”.
The fair also features workshops on writing and composition, filmmaking, theater, culinary arts, children’s arts, science fiction writing, traditional Saudi fashion design, as well as dialogue sessions, training courses, and poetry and art evenings.
Performances and international plays will be staged in three external theaters, two at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, and a theater at the King Fahd Cultural Center. Live cooking shows and children’s events will also be among the activities and events scheduled at the fair.
The 2021 Riyadh International Book Fair will be held over an area of 36,000 square meters and will be open to the public daily from 10 am to 11 pm.
