The 2024 Riyadh International Book Fair is just around the corner, taking place from September 26 to October 5 at King Saud University in Riyadh. Organized by Saudi Arabia’s Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, this year’s event is poised to be a grand celebration of literature and creativity.
Featuring approximately 2,000 publishing houses and agencies from over 30 countries, the fair will showcase 800 booths filled with a rich tapestry of books and publications. It promises to be a vibrant platform for exploring literary works and engaging with innovative ideas.
Riyadh, a host of prominent writers, thinkers, and intellectuals from Saudi Arabia and across the globe will be present, underscoring the fair’s importance as a key literary event in the region.
Qatar will take center stage as the guest of honor, presenting its cultural and intellectual heritage through a specially curated pavilion. This pavilion will display rare manuscripts and publications from Qatar’s Ministry of Culture.
In attendance will be leading figures from Qatar’s literary and artistic community, as well as significant cultural organizations from the country.
Mohammed Hasan Alwan, CEO of the commission, highlighted the fair’s role in showcasing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to cultural initiatives. “The fair offers visitors a unique intellectual and cultural experience, incorporating the latest technologies and digital solutions. Attendees can discover thousands of new releases across various fields and enjoy a wide range of activities and events within the diverse cultural program, featuring prominent cultural figures from Saudi Arabia and beyond. This makes the 2024 edition a truly inspiring cultural journey, building on the successes of previous editions.”
This year’s fair will introduce a specialized business zone, featuring literary agencies that handle author contracts and printing presses catering to publishers.
Government and financial institutions related to the publishing sector will also have a presence. The zone will offer special sessions and workshops covering entrepreneurship, licensing, and copyright.
Additionally, a dedicated children’s area will offer a plethora of literary, cultural, and entertainment activities aimed at fostering curiosity among young readers.
By championing local authors, supporting self-published works, and offering a broad spectrum of cultural events, the fair highlights Saudi Arabia’s efforts to nurture literary creativity and innovation.
The Cultural Channel will collaborate to deliver the event’s extensive cultural and intellectual programming, featuring dialogue sessions, workshops, poetry readings, concerts, and artistic performances. We designed this diverse range of activities to enrich the cultural landscape, encourage knowledge sharing, and promote reading as an essential part of life, contributing to the ongoing cultural and intellectual renaissance in Saudi society.