RIYADH — More than 600 publishing houses are expected to take part in the Jeddah International Book Fair, which will be held during the period from December 8 to 17 this year. The Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, under the Ministry of Culture, started preparations to organize the book fair as part of its 'Book Fairs Initiative.' This is one of the commission's strategic initiatives, through which it works to expand the establishment of book fairs in the Kingdom, as cultural windows that bring together those in the fields of literature, publishing, and translation from local and international institutions and companies with readers and interested people. It also facilitates book fans to enjoy diverse cultural fiesta on the sidelines of the fair as it provides an integrated cultural experience for all segments of Saudi society. The commission is also making preparations to organize two conferences on the sidelines of the fair. The first conference would focus on digital publishing, while the second one is dedicated to science fiction, with the participation of experts and specialists from within the Kingdom and abroad. A comprehensive cultural program with the participation of cultural authorities will be another feature of this year's fair. The cultural program includes a wide variety of programs and activities such as lectures, cultural workshops, seminars, poetry evenings, and theatrical performances, in addition to educational and training corners for children. The Jeddah Book Fair is the third book fair to be organized by the commission this year. It organized the Madinah Book Fair last June, and the Riyadh International Book Fair will be held at the end of this month. The fairs aimed to make the access of books to the largest possible segments of the society and to create multiple outlets for publishing and distribution so as to ensure that the Kingdom is transformed into a major platform in the book publishing industry. It is noteworthy that the book fair is returning to Jeddah after a hiatus of three years since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. More than 400 publishing houses from 40 Arab and other countries showcased over 350,000 titles on various aspects of knowledge in the 5th International Book Fair held in December 2019 before the outbreak of the pandemic. The ten-day annual festival of books was held at Events Land in south Obhur.
