UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth delegation visited the Riyadh International Book Fair 2021. The book expo, held at Riyadh Front from October 1 to 10, is patronised by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The Ministry’s team attended the inauguration of the International Conference of Publishers and the conversation session hosted by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property.
Dr. AbdulLatif Al Wasl, General Manager of the Riyadh International Book Fair, welcomed the delegation, which included His Excellency Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Youth, and Ali AlShaali, Acting Assistant Undersecretary of the Heritage and Arts Sector. Dr. Abdul Latif Al Wasl updated the audience on the high-quality projects in the publishing industry, Saudi Arabia’s tireless efforts to advance the writing profession, and the role of the Riyadh International Book Fair in promoting books and expanding their reach within the intellectual community.
To strengthen cooperation and improve the publishing sector, the Ministry’s delegation met with Sheikha Bodourbint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the International Publishers Association (IPA), Founder and President of the Emirates Publishers Association, and Bashar Shabaro, Secretary General of the Arab Publishers Union. The group explored ways to turn obstacles into opportunities for the publishing sector to grow, particularly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The delegation also paid visits to the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center, The Kalima Project, and the Emirati Publishers Association’s ManassahPlatform, which are all participating in the book market (EPA). The Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA), the Riyadh Literary Club, the ‘Howie’ initiative, and the ‘MakanizAlmakhtotat’ initiative were among the Saudi pavilions they visited.
Commenting on the book fair,H.E. Mubarak Al Nakhi, said: “Riyadh International Book Fair is a renowned cultural event that underlines the importance of books as key tools in spreading culture and knowledge and enriching the intellectual and cognitive thinking. This annual event aims to make reading as a way of life which instills intellectualism in society. Reading is the foundation of a society and has led to cultural renaissances witnessed by many countries and societies. It also supports and reaffirms the status of Saudi Arabia as an incubator and hub of Arab culture, and a global cultural center that brings together writers and intellectuals from all over the world.
“The remarkable efforts of Saudi Arabia and the curators of this book fair translate the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to support the spread of knowledge. Such initiatives strengthen the book industry, an essential engine for the advancement of people and communities culturally, intellectually and creatively.”
The Riyadh International Book Fair takes place every year in Riyadh, bringing together the world’s most major publishing firms as well as readers from all over the world. It strengthens the Kingdom’s cultural contribution and trade collaboration, establishing Saudi Arabia as a global publishing hub.
