Damascus News Platform — News — Doha:
The activities of the 35th edition of the Doha International Book Fair have officially commenced in the State of Qatar, with the participation of 520 publishing houses from 37 Arab and foreign countries, including the Syrian Arab Republic, represented by the Ministry of Culture through the General Syrian Book Organization. The event is considered one of the most prominent cultural gatherings in the region.
The opening ceremony of the Doha Book Fair was inaugurated by the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, which in itself reflects the significance of holding such a large-scale cultural event. In a post on the platform “X,” he stated:
“The Doha International Book Fair in its 35th edition embodies a firm national commitment to developing human beings and refining their intellectual capabilities.”
He added:
“We recognize that reading contributes to the intellectual, cultural, and cognitive reconstruction of individuals and societies. We welcome all publishing houses participating in this edition.”
The Syrian Minister of Culture, Mohammed Yassin Al-Saleh, along with his deputy Saad Nasan, and the Chargé d’Affaires of the Syrian Embassy in Qatar, Dr. Bilal Turkiya, attended the opening ceremony, affirming an official presence that reflects the importance of Syria’s participation in this international cultural event.
Throughout the fair, which runs until May 23, the Syrian participation presents a wide range of literary, intellectual, and scientific publications totaling 175 titles, including 30 titles dedicated to children’s literature and culture, in addition to the latest issues of cultural magazines issued by the Ministry of Culture. This reflects the ongoing vitality and development of Syria’s cultural scene.
The exhibited Syrian publications range between contemporary books and classical works, offering a comprehensive image of Syria’s intellectual heritage across different eras, while reaffirming the country’s continued active presence in Arab and international cultural forums.
The fair is held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, amid broad Arab and international cultural attendance, making it one of the largest cultural events in the region, bringing together publishers, intellectuals, and knowledge seekers from around the world.
This year’s edition features more than 1.85 million books and over 231,000 titles distributed across 919 exhibition booths, alongside the launch of 143 new publications, reflecting the dynamic activity within the publishing sector.
The cultural program includes 46 dialogue sessions, 69 workshops, and more than 40 intellectual seminars on the main stage, with the participation of a select group of writers, thinkers, researchers, and translators from Qatar and abroad.
The fair also places special emphasis on children and youth by allocating five interactive zones within the venue, in addition to launching a mobile book bus that will visit 12 schools in Doha to promote reading culture among students.
Qatari cultural institutions are participating with several innovative initiatives, including Qatar Museums, which is presenting multilingual art publications, and the Qatar Authors Forum with more than one hundred new releases, alongside various intellectual events and seminars.
The Qatar National Library is also showcasing artificial intelligence technologies through an interactive activity titled “Meet Your Literary Double,” while Qatar University Press and Al Jazeera Centre for Studies are presenting new publications that reflect the country’s academic and research activity.
The first day witnessed the launch of the opening session of the Cultural Salon with a seminar titled “The Cultural Dimension in Theatrical Drama,” featuring Qatari writers Hassan Rashid and Marzouq Bashir.
This edition of the fair also includes the presentation of the operetta “Fath Al-Khair” at Al Mayassa Theatre, along with the Doha International Book Fair Award in its three categories: Qatari Publisher, Qatari Author, and International Author.
A photographic exhibition of the “Iqra” (Read) competition was also inaugurated, celebrating the human relationship with books and reading, under the supervision of the Qatari Ministry of Culture.
This edition of the Doha International Book Fair reaffirms Doha’s position as a leading Arab and international cultural platform that brings together thought, creativity, and publishing, while strengthening the presence
of the book in the contemporary cultural landscape.
