More than 1,800 publishing houses from 32 countries around the world are showcasing their latest publications and titles at the Riyadh International Book Fair 2023, which kicked off at the King Saud University campus here on Thursday. Oman is the guest of honor at the 10-day festival of books and culture, with the slogan of ‘An inspiring destination,’ organized by the Saudi Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, under the Ministry of Culture. The book fair is also witnessing the participation of 70 French publishing houses as part of the “Riyadh Reads French” initiative. A special display of rare manuscripts and artifacts, numbering more than 25 pieces, and artistic paintings is another highlight of the fair, which will run through until Oct. 7. More than one million book fans and readers are expected to visit the festival, which will witness over 200 cultural activities. The book fair is the largest festival of books in the Kingdom and the Arab world in terms of the diversity of the cultural programs and its activities catering to the tastes of people of all age groups. In its largest cultural program in the Arab world, the exhibition focuses on topics of biography, children’s literature, content creation and empowerment, and addresses concerns of translation, dubbing, oral storytelling, and a long list of topics and rich cultural interactions. Mohammed Alwan, head of the commission, said that the cultural event, hosted by the city of Riyadh, will open its doors to all visitors starting from Thursday morning and welcome everyone, especially family members, free of charge. The book fair, which was arranged on an area spreading over 50,000 square meters, is open to all without tickets and invitations, and they can benefit from the space of culture, entertainment and arts that the place abounds in. The book fair will be a cultural fiesta for the visitors. There are diverse cultural programs to enrich the nights of the exhibition, by making multiple platforms with the presence of a galaxy of intellectuals, eminent writers, thinkers, critics, and pioneers of the artistic sectors in Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the Arab world. There will be a package of seminars, lectures and workshops covering all areas of cultural creativity. There are more than 200 cultural activities as part of the book fair and these include dialogue sessions, seminars, poetry evenings performed by elite classical and Nabati poets, workshops in various branches of knowledge, along with interaction of novelists and writers. The fair features various activities to educate children, enrich and refine their talent and abilities and their cognitive skills in a festive cultural atmosphere. There will also be Saudi and international theatrical performances, musical and lyrical concerts, as well as the Book Talk event, which hosts a group of influential thinkers and authors, in activities that reflect all elements and components of culture. The fair will also have book signing platforms that host a group of writers to sign their latest publications and present them to their readers, in addition to a large area for children, and a number of supportive pavilions. There is a corner for the Saudi authors for self-publishing, allowing the opportunity to display more than 400 titles of Saudi authors. For the first time this year, the Riyadh Book Fair is organizing a poetry recitation competition for children, so that the children can enjoy the experience of learning poetic writing skills and recitation techniques, which enhances their linguistic skills and development of their personality. On Wednesday, October 4, the exhibition will host the International Publishers Conference, which will examine the reality of the publishing industry in the Arab world and seeks to develop it to reach internationally competitive levels. The conference will delve into various aspects of the book industry and address the challenges faced by publishers. Several eminent Saudi and international speakers, including leaders of the publishing industry, individual publishers, authors, content makers and specialists will attend the event. The pavilion of Oman, the guest of honor country, is prominently situated at the heart of the exhibition, offering visitors a rich display of books, manuscripts, and various facets of Omani national culture. Its cultural program includes aspects of Omani intellectual and cultural production. The pavilion reflects the country’s identity, displays books and manuscripts that indicate its rich heritage and broad cultural experience, and celebrates its symbols, publications and contribution to the Arab cultural scene. The fair will host prominent Omani cultural figures and talents, providing a unique opportunity for attendees to engage with the country"s vibrant literary and cultural scene. Omani publishers will also showcase their latest publications to captivated audiences. Oman’s selection as the guest of honor underscores the deep historical ties and fraternal relations between the two nations. It reflects their shared commitment to strengthening cultural cooperation.