HRH Governor of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Prince Faisal bin Salman inaugurates the Medina Book Fair

Ashraf AboArafe

The Governor of Madinah Region and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Region Development Authority, His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, inaugurated the activities of the Medina Book Fair, which is organized by the Commission for Literature, Publishing and Translation in cooperation with the Medina Region Development Commission, in the presence of His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Culture, Mr. Hamed bin Muhammad Fayez and His Excellency the Mayor of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Region, CEO of the Region Development Authority, Eng. Fahd bin Muhammad Al-Balishi, at the King Salman International Exhibition and Conference Center.

During the opening ceremony – which witnessed a qualitative presence of Saudi and Arab cultural and media personalities – His Highness, the Emir of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah region confirmed that reading has become an intellectual necessity and not a cognitive luxury, noting that the city of Al-Mustafa, peace be upon him, has been a destination for knowledge for hundreds of years, expressing his aspirations to contribute to this demonstration Cultural awareness in promoting societal awareness, and opening the window of the world to Medina in a manner commensurate with its position and the depth of its cultural and intellectual influence on the Arab and international levels.

HRH Prince Faisal bin Salman toured the pavilions of the Madinah Book Fair, which is being held on an area of ​​12.5 thousand square meters. More than 60,000 titles in various languages.

The opening ceremony began with the royal anthem, then the audience watched a visual presentation about the region and the activities of the Madinah Book Fair. The CEO of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Authority, Dr. Muhammad Alwan, delivered a speech in which he stressed that the exhibition will provide an integrated journey for readers in the heart of Madinah, where it comes to enhance its position. Which is considered an intellectual beacon and a center for cultural radiation throughout the centuries, noting that the exhibition aims to encourage the spread of knowledge and books, contribute to the renaissance of nations, and build a bright future for future generations, which will have a significant impact on improving the quality of life.

It is noteworthy that the activities of the Madinah Book Fair continue daily until the 26th of Dhul Qi’dah, and witness the organization of more than 80 diverse activities, including holding seminars, dialogue sessions, poetry evenings, and workshops in the fields of thought, science, culture and literature, with the participation of a group of the most important Saudi and Arab writers and intellectuals. In addition to the children’s suite, which includes dozens of activities and events to hone children’s skills and develop their knowledge and cognitive and creative talents.