Overview
The Riyadh International Book Fair is an international book fair organised by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission and held in the city of Riyadh. Its first edition opened on the first of Safar 1978 in the halls of Riyadh University, now King Saud University, and its editions are documented through the twenty-sixth in 2022. [1]
The fair moved from its first site at the Riyadh University campus in Al-Malaz to more than five locations over its course. [1] It kept its annual schedule through its first four years, then lapsed from 1982 to 2006, and from 2006 it has been held annually except in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. [1]
Origins and Editions
A book titled 'Riyadh International Book Fair: Origins, History and Achievements' by researcher Mansour bin Mohammed Al-Assaf traces the fair's course across 227 pages supported by photographs, documents and tables. [1]
The number of participating publishing houses rose from 120 in the first fair in 1978 to 2,000 in the 2024 edition. [1]
The 2021 edition was counted as the largest in the Kingdom's history since the fair's launch, and the most prominent event in the Arab cultural scene. [8]
Venue and Location
The fair began in the halls of Riyadh University, now King Saud University, in the city of Riyadh, and then spread across more than five locations over its course. [1] In the 2024 edition it was held at King Saud University. [2]
The 2006 edition was held on an area of 15,000 square meters at the Riyadh Exhibition Centre over ten days [4]; the 2008 edition was held in the Riyadh Exhibition Hall [5]; and the 2018 edition at the Riyadh Exhibition Grounds. [9]
Organisation and Administration
The Ministry of Higher Education organised, supervised and administered the fair in the 2006 edition. [3] Saudi universities took part with a pavilion under the name of the Ministry of Higher Education and Saudi Universities highlighting the course of higher education development in the Kingdom. [3]
The Ministry of Culture and Information organised the 2008 edition [5], while the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission currently organises it; the 2024 edition was held under the commission's organisation from 26 September to 5 October 2024. [2]
Participants and International Editions
About 20 countries and 350 local and foreign publishing houses took part in the 2006 edition, and the number of books on display reached about 150,000. [4]
The Republic of Yemen took part in the 2008 edition with 2,420 titles. [5]
In the 2024 edition more than 2,000 publishers and agencies from the Kingdom, the region and the world took part, distributed across 800 pavilions and belonging to more than 30 countries. [2]
The Sharjah Book Authority took part in the 2018 edition [9], and in the 2022 edition the fair drew writers, literary figures and publishers from various countries of the world to present their latest releases in English and others translated into Arabic. [7]
Cultural Programme and Slogans
In the 2024 edition the fair presented a cultural programme comprising more than 200 events, including seminars, dialogue sessions, lectures, poetry evenings and workshops. [2]
The Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission announced the slogan of the 2024 edition under the title 'Riyadh Reads' [2], and the slogan 'The Book... the Future of Transformation' was adopted for the 2018 edition. [6]
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When did the Riyadh International Book Fair launch? A: In its first edition on the first of Safar 1978, in the halls of Riyadh University, now King Saud University.
Q: Who organises the Riyadh International Book Fair? A: It is currently organised by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission.
Q: Where and when was the Riyadh International Book Fair 2024 held? A: At King Saud University in the city of Riyadh, from 26 September to 5 October 2024.
Q: How many publishing houses take part in the fair? A: They reached 2,000 publishing houses in the 2024 edition, after having been 120 in the first fair in 1978.
Q: What is the slogan of the Riyadh International Book Fair 2024? A: 'Riyadh Reads'.
Conclusion
The Riyadh International Book Fair has spanned more than four decades, from the halls of Riyadh University in 1978 to the 2024 edition, which brought together more than 2,000 publishers and agencies from more than 30 countries. [1][2]
It is part of the Kingdom's cultural landscape, alongside the National Culture Strategy, the King Abdulaziz Public Library, the King Fahd National Library and Riyadh Season.
Related topics
- CityRiyadh (city)Capital of Saudi Arabia and seat of the Riyadh Region emirate, beside Diriyah, home to Qasr Al-Hukm and Masmak Palace.
- RegionRiyadh RegionA central Saudi administrative region encompassing the national capital and varied Najdi governorates, with connections to Diriyah, oasis settlement, government and modern economic activity.
- TopicNational Culture StrategyThe National Culture Strategy is a national strategy approved by the Council of Ministers on 27 March 2019 to organise and develop the cultural sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It rests on three pillars — culture as a way of life, culture for economic growth, and culture for enhancing the Kingdom's international standing — and covers the sixteen cultural sectors within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030.
- MuseumKing Abdulaziz Public LibraryKing Abdulaziz Public Library is a charitable institution founded by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 1405 AH, corresponding to 1985 CE, and is among the most prominent cultural institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; it holds more than 5.2 million knowledge items and serves more than one million beneficiaries annually.
- MuseumKing Fahd National LibraryKing Fahd National Library is the national library of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, based in Riyadh. It became a national library under a statute issued by Council of Ministers Resolution No. (80) of 1410 AH, and is responsible for collecting, documenting, and making available the Kingdom's intellectual output.
- HistoricRiyadh SeasonRiyadh Season is an annual entertainment season held in the city of Riyadh and supervised by the General Entertainment Authority, whose first edition launched on 11 October 2019. It is spread across multiple entertainment zones and attracts millions of visitors from within the Kingdom and abroad; the 2023 edition reached 20 million visitors at its close.
- HistoricExhibition of the Architecture of the Two Holy MosquesThe Exhibition of the Architecture of the Two Holy Mosques is a permanent exhibition in Makkah established by the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque in 1420 AH, displaying the collections of the Two Holy Mosques, their architectural elements and rare photographs that tell the story of their architecture across the ages. It is built on an area of 1,200 square metres and consists of seven halls containing two models of the Two Holy Mosques and a collection of Qurans, manuscripts, artefacts and dated collections.
Sources & references
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — “Riyadh International Book Fair: a journey spanning more than four decades”
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — “The Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission unveils the slogan of the Riyadh International Book Fair 2024”
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — “Riyadh International Book Fair 2006”
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — “Launch of the Riyadh International Book Fair 2006”
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — “Participation of the Republic of Yemen in the Riyadh International Book Fair 2008”
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — “Adoption of the slogan of the Riyadh International Book Fair 2018”
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — “Riyadh International Book Fair 2022 draws publishers from various countries of the world”
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — “Riyadh International Book Fair 2021, the largest edition in the Kingdom's history”
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — “Participation of the Sharjah Book Authority in the Riyadh International Book Fair 2018”