Ashraf AboArafe
More than 1000 publishing houses and local, Arab and international agencies
400 thousand titles .. and 450 thousand books sold
The activities of the Jeddah Book Fair 2024 concluded yesterday evening, organized by the General Authority for Literature, Publishing and Translation in Jeddah Superdome, under the slogan “Jeddah Reads”, in a cognitive journey that lasted for 10 days, during which it hosted more than 1000 publishing houses and local, Arab and international agencies, distributed over 450 pavilions, to provide an exceptional cultural experience for lovers of literature and knowledge.
The CEO of the General Authority for Literature, Publishing and Translation, Dr. Muhammad Hassan Alwan, expressed his thanks to the wise leadership – may God support them – for their unlimited support for the growing cultural movement in the Kingdom, noting that the Jeddah Book Fair is the third book fair, after the Riyadh International Book Fair and the Madinah Book Fair for this year 2024.
Alwan explained that the exhibition witnessed a remarkable presence with distinctive numbers that confirm the development of the cultural scene in the Kingdom, as the exhibition provided nearly 400 thousand titles on display, and the number of books sold exceeded 450 thousand books, covering various fields from books from publishing houses on display, manga and discounted books.
He stressed that the Authority is working hard to develop each edition of the book fairs, to become more distinctive and attractive through innovative creative ideas, noting that these efforts come under the guidance and follow-up of His Highness the Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, with the aim of achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which attaches great importance to promoting culture and its pivotal role in improving the quality of life and enhancing economic and social development.
Dr. Alwan said: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has become a beacon of culture and creativity at the Arab and international levels, thanks to its cultural diversity and rich cultural heritage that has made it an attractive destination for cultural and artistic events.”
He pointed out that the Ministry of Culture is working diligently to transform the Kingdom into a major platform for the publishing and distribution industry, by providing an ideal and advanced environment that meets the needs of readers and publishing houses alike.
At the conclusion of the third edition of the Jeddah Book Fair 2024, Alwan expressed his pride in what the Kingdom has achieved in the field of publishing industry, praising the meticulous studies and well-thought-out plans behind the success of these events, stressing that the Literature, Publishing and Translation Authority is keen to make books accessible to everyone and expand publishing outlets, in line with the national strategy for culture emanating from Saudi Vision 2030.
