FROM LEFT: Jamal Faiz from the Public Libraries section of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, Ibrahim Al Sayed, Director of Doha Book Fair, and Hamad Al Zakiba, Director of Publication Department during the press conference at the Ministry yesterday. Pic
With the participation of 490 publishing houses from 33 countries, the 27th Doha International Book Fair will kick off on November 30 at Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC).
The 10-day fair will showcase over 104,389 titles in Arabic and other foreign languages, out of which 15,219 titles have been published this year, said Ibrahim Al Buhashem Al Sayed, Director of the book fair.
Al Sayed highlighted that 90 publishing houses specialised in children’s books will participate in the book fair. The number of countries participating this year has increased to 33 from 28 last year, and the exhibition area has increased from 20,000 sqm to 23,500 sqm in order to give exhibitors enough space, he said, adding the fair will include a total of 895 stands.
Al Syed, who was speaking at a press conference held yesterday at the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture and Sports pointed out that Minister of Culture and Sports H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, will meet intellectuals, authors and journalists in an open session to discuss major concerns of the Qatari cultural scene on the final day of the fair.
Regarding services and facilities Al Sayed emphasized that there will be more than 100 volunteers to help the visitors and 10,000 trolleys will be available for visitors to carry books.
The 27th edition of the annual book fair is going to take place under the theme “Read” and the vision of the Ministry of Culture and Sports “towards conscious of the need of pure body and an authentic tradition mix”.
Visitors are going to enjoy free Internet services, besides restaurants and cafes along with ATM services provided by QNB.
It is an important event for intellectuals and Qatari talent where Arab and international publishers will present the latest publications, said the Minister of Culture and Sports. Under the ministry’s vision, book is given core status as source of information, ideas and protector of conscience and a solid background of behaviour said Al Ali.
This session makes readers a central bet as the word “read” has become the keyword to knowledge and guides community development, the minister added. The fair will strengthen the connections between Qatari writers and their counterparts abroad, said Al Ali, adding that Doha Book Fair “is an index of quantum leap in our way of looking at the book and its role in the society”.
Regarding book prices Al Sayed said publishers and exhibitors were asked to offer discount by 25 per cent at least taking into account different expenses they bear to publish and transport books he noted.
Some ministries and academic and cultural institutions in GCC states will take part in the book fair. The fair will host on daily basis a seminar and professional workshop which will be run by specialized institutions like the Arab Publishers Federation and Katara’s Arab Novel Award and others, said Al Sayed.
The book fair will be open from November 30 to December 10 from 9 am to 10 pm every day except Friday when it will open from 4pm until 11pm.
