Strong participation of Qatar at international book fair in Oman

Qatar is showcasing over 100 titles at the 24th edition of the Muscat International Book Fair that features 882 publishers representing 30 countries.

Qatar is represented at the event by the Libraries Department of the country's Ministry of Culture and Sports, in cooperation with Lusail Publishing House that is displaying Qatari intellectual property, according to the Gulf Times.

A wide range of literary, historical, cultural and intellectual publications, in addition to the Ministry’s periodicals, is being exhibited at the Qatari pavilion.

HBKU Press has also joined the book fair for the second year with some of its latest releases.

With over a hundred new titles brought to readers in Oman, HBKU Press “validates its commitment to act as a platform for local Qatari and Arab talent and its commitment to help facilitate the dissemination of local narratives to different regions across the Gulf and beyond,” said Rima Ismail, Outreach and Special Projects Manager at HBKU Press.

Over 523,000 titles are on display at the book fair, with 35 % of these being new releases. Countries such as China, Bulgaria, Canada and Sri Lanka will partake in the fair for the first time, reported The Peninsula.

1,000,060 is the total number of visitors to the #Muscat International #Book Fair (23) in 2018, an increase of 21% compared to the previous session, with females accounting for 51% of the total visitors.#Stat_Oman pic.twitter.com/C614TwDmWD

— المركز الوطني للإحصاء والمعلومات - عُمان (@NCSIOman) February 21, 2019

Qatar’s representation in the fair is of great significance to the country as this is one of the largest and most prominent book fairs in the region. Exhibition goers and bookworms will have a chance to get hold of some of the newest Qatari works.

Books by the popular Qatari children’s author, Muneera Saad Al Romaihi will be available at the fair including her fourth book, “Monsters are Afraid of Mama.” Dr Nasser Al Mohannadi, first Qatari to ever complete a full Ironman race will also take part in the event where his book “How to be an Ironman” will be exhibited.

Some other renowned Qatari authors’ works will also be featured at the fair comprising Jameela Sultan Almass Al Jassem’s “The Riyal’s Journey and The Ant Teacher” and Sheikha Al Zeyara’s “The Sultan of the Sea and The Farmer Who Saved The Vilage. First-time Qatari author Faten Al Sulaiti’s “Hairy Mary” also adds to the list of books introduced at the Oman fair.

Other books include “Gardening in Arabia,” by Qatari author Shuaa Abdullah Al Sada that presents a stunning overview of the plants unique to the Gulf region.

Another very interesting read on display is “The Gulf Crisis: The View from Qatar” that is a collective account of 15 Doha-based scholars and experts who shed light on the impact of the illegal blockade on Qatar’s economy, politics and society and the way this has been represented in media.

According to Ismail, some of the best-selling and critically-acclaimed local narratives have been translated into Arabic by HBKU Press and will be available at HBKU Press booth at the fair.

Other than this, the HBKU Press also offers Khaled Hosseini’s latest novel “Sea Prayer,” a hauntingly illustrated narrative written as a letter from a father to his son on the eve of their sea voyage to escape their war-torn homeland.

Launched in 1992, this international book fair in Oman has contributed to the cultural movement in the country that has evolved into a landmark cultural, intellectual and literary forum in the region. The ongoing exhibition will conclude on March 3.

What are your thoughts on this news? Let us know in the comments below!

--

Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content.

Instagram - @qatarliving

Twitter - @qatarliving

Facebook - Qatar Living

Cover Image Credit: Twitter