JEDDAH: Saudi authors will have an objective and intellectual discourse with readers during a 10-day book fair at Jeddah International Center for Forums and Events from July 26 to Aug. 5.
Mohammed Qiran of Jeddah Literary Club said this cultural event is organized as part of the Jeddah Ghair tourism festival. Prominent writers will take part in the debates, he added.
Qiran said invitations have been sent to Saudi authors, academics, researchers and media persons to make the debates interesting and lively. He said more than 100 Saudi publishing houses will display their latest intellectual and literary products during the event.
Abdullah Marei Bin-Mahfouz, deputy chairman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the book fair is organized to strengthen the Kingdom’s publishing industry.
“It will also give an opportunity for Saudis and expatriates to follow the latest books published in the Kingdom,” he told Arab News.
He said visitors will be allowed to read the books on display, and the exhibition venue is being designed with this in view.
Bin-Mahfouz said an international book fair will be held in Jeddah in the beginning of next year with the participation of publishers from different parts of the world. “These events are held as part of efforts to make Jeddah a cultural center and a specialized exhibition center,” he said.
He said a number of workshops, meetings and seminars to be attended by prominent Saudi writers and intellectuals, including women, would be held on the sidelines of the exhibition.
