Book lovers keen to experience Muscat Book Fair

Muscat: Book lovers in Oman are eager to visit the Muscat International Book Fair which begins at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre on Thursday.

Set to launch under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, the book fair will continue till 5 March and host an elite selection of literati, media personnel, publishers and exhibitors.

Omar Al Balushi, an Omani national added: “The book fair has a wide variety of books covering extensive subjects and is definitely a place anyone will enjoy. There is no habit in the world as good as reading: It stimulates the mind, encourages you to think creatively and helps develop your intelligence.

“It’s a good thing to encourage children to read at a young age and just like they have in the past  book fairs, I am sure they will be looking forward to this one as well,” he said.

“After not being able to go last year, we are very much looking forward to visiting the book fair this year,” said Alice Wilson, an expatriate in the country. “Events like this only add to the optimism after two years of the pandemic and remind us of how fortunate we are.”

During a recent press conference on the book fair, Dr Abdullah Nasser Al Harrasi, the Minister of Information, said the Governorate of South Sharqiyah would be the guest of honour this year.

“It will showcase a wide range of programmes and cultural activities carrying the insignia of its heritage and cultural legacy throughout the days of the book fair,” said the minister.

“The decision to hold the book fair this year was the outcome of extensive study, bearing in mind all concerns and interests. Strict precautionary measures were devised by a specialised technical and health team to ensure the safety of all visitors.”

Some 570 publishers from 27 countries will exhibit their publications at the book fair directly, while another 145 will participate through agents. Some 361,230 titles of books from 715 publishers will be available to the public at the book fair.

“The venue will comprise the guest of honour wing, as well as other rooms named after Arab and Omani celebrities,” said Ahmed Saud Al Rawahi, the director of the Muscat International Book Fair. “Other areas will be dedicated to official departments, nationwide initiatives, sponsors and media channels.”

Arrangements will be made with the Ministry of Education to arrange for school-going students to attend the fair.

“As many as 114 cultural activities, among them 29 unique to the South Al Sharqiyah Governorate, will be staged, but children’s activities will be limited to 85 in line with Covid-19 precautionary measures,” added Sayyid Said Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Culture at the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Youth.