The Muscat International Book Fair 2025, which concluded on Saturday, received 649,589 visitors from across the Sultanate of Oman and abroad.
The concluding ceremony of the 29th edition saw the honoring of a number of prominent cultural figures and institutions for their contributions to enriching the cultural scene in the Sultanate of Oman.
This ceremony took place under the patronage of Mohammed bin Saeed al Balushi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information, at the Al Farahidi Hall at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, which saw the participation of 674 publishing houses from 35 countries, including 640 direct participants and 34 through agencies.
The exhibition showcased 681,041 Omani, Arab, and foreign titles, including 52,000 recent publications.
The 28th edition of the Muscat International Book Fair, which received 394,172 visitors, saw the participation of 34 countries and 847 publishing houses, offering over 20,000 titles, including a remarkable collection of more than 19,000 Omani books.
The exhibition’s cultural program included 211 cultural events under the theme “Cultural Diversity: The Enrichment of Civilizations.”
In a speech, Ahmed al Rawahi, Director of the Muscat International Book Fair, said: “The contributions of the Muscat International Book Fair, since its inception, have demonstrated its impact in promoting cultural activity, promoting the values of reading, and making books available and disseminated throughout this beloved country.”
This year’s fair had North Al Sharqiyah Governorate as the guest of honor as part of the efforts to highlight the cultural diversity and civilizational depth of the Sultanate of Oman. The governorate implemented a rich program of diverse activities that reflected the governorate’s rich cultural, intellectual, and artistic heritage, which played a prominent role in enriching the exhibition’s activities.
To strengthen cultural exchange efforts between the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the exhibition hosted Saudi Cultural Days, which represented an important addition to the exhibition’s activities through their unique cultural program.
Al-Rawahy congratulated the cultural figures and institutions for their constructive contributions and recognized role in advancing the cultural movement in the country. These honorees included author Abdullah Habib, Al-Dhamri Publishing and Distribution House and Library, and Dar Al-Kitab Al-Ahlia Public Library.
The Al Wusta Governorate will be the guest of honor at the 30th edition of the Muscat International Book Fair.
The closing ceremony of the Muscat International Book Fair included a visual presentation of the daily coverage of the fair, a poetry segment, a visual presentation of the activities of North Al Sharqiyah Governorate’s participation as the exhibition’s guest of honor, and a poem recited by poet Hamoud Al-Aisri entitled “A Chant in the Name of North Al Sharqiyah Governorate.”
During the ceremony, the winners of the first season of the National Reading Championship were announced. Targeting school students in the Sultanate of Oman, the championship was held in three competitive stages over a full academic year. A total of 500 books were read, making it a national cultural project implemented by the Ministry of Education and supervised by the exhibition’s Community Initiatives Committee.
