The 34th Doha International Book Fair opened at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, running until May 17. The event saw broad participation from publishers and cultural institutions worldwide, making it one of the region’s most significant trade fairs, annually attracting publishers, book enthusiasts, and industry professionals.
This edition features 522 publishers from 43 countries, marking it as the largest in the fair’s history, according to organizers. The fair’s catalog includes over 166,000 titles, encompassing books, manuscripts, and various publications. Government and private institutions, as well as several foreign diplomatic missions, are also participating.
The 34th edition celebrates Palestinian culture, with Palestine as the guest of honor. A dedicated pavilion showcases a diverse cultural program highlighting Palestinian heritage, literary and artistic works, and traditional and folkloric performances.
The fair’s theme, “From Engraving to Writing,” reflects the evolution of cultural and written history over time. The Ministry of Culture, the event’s organizer, emphasized that the theme embodies a vision to promote cultural awareness and highlight the importance of thought and knowledge in national development.
The fair includes an extensive cultural and artistic program, featuring intellectual symposia, lectures, poetry evenings, theater performances, and specialized workshops on literature, art, and heritage. Special attention is given to children, with a large area dedicated to children’s book publishers, interactive events to promote reading and creativity, and a theater for cultural performances for youth.
During the fair, the Ministry of Culture will announce the Doha International Book Fair Award winners, recognizing achievements in publishing and authorship to support the industry and encourage creatives.
The first edition of a professional literary exchange program will also be launched, aiming to foster collaboration between writers and publishers globally, support translations, and facilitate the exchange of publishing rights, contributing to Qatar’s cultural presence on the international literary scene.
The Doha International Book Fair, first held in 1972 under the Qatar National Library’s supervision, is one of the region’s oldest book fairs. Initially every two years, it became an annual event in 2002, serving as a key platform for cultural dialogue and intellectual exchange in the region.
