“We have gained good local and regional reputation," said Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Abdullah Al-Jasser, who is also supervisor general of the book fair, citing the fair's guest country program (this year the guest country is India) and the linking of the fair with other international book fairs, such as the ones in Frankfurt and London.

“This helps us benefit from their experience," he added.

The number of foreign exhibitors has doubled from last year. The total number of exhibitors is approximately 350.

Christine Palowitch, who was handling the booth for the children's book publisher Scholastic, said the book fair offers a chance for the publisher to make inroads in the Saudi market.

“Our participation proved to be very useful," she said. "Our booth received strong interest from both Saudi and expatriate visitors to the exhibition."

Palowitch said Scholastic will open an English-teaching center for youngsters in Riyadh before the end of the year.

Mahmoud Marie, who was working the Garnet Publishing booth, said this is the publisher's first year at the book fair in Riyadh.

"Because we have a branch in Lebanon for publishing Arabic books, and also because we are exhibiting in an Arab country, the majority of our displayed books here are in Arabic," he said, adding that Garnet is considering attending next year's fair and bringing more books in English.