Riyadh book fair clarifies rules on sale of materials

The organizing committee of the Riyadh International Book Fair has banned any entity or individual from distributing or selling printed materials, books and videos to visitors without prior approval from management.
Sources confirmed that the distribution of such materials without approval would be considered a violation of the regulations, and individuals would be subjected to questioning by security authorities.
This year, electronic devices located at the fair have allowed visitors to search for available literature and their associated prices in shorter periods of time. Using these devices, visitors are able to identify materials using the author’s name, publishing house, or country of origin as search inputs.
Meanwhile, Dr. Nasser Huaylan, the Deputy Ministry of Information and Cultural Affairs and general supervisor of the fair, said that the Committee on Publications received complaints about materials during the book fair last year, and regulatory measures have therefore been taken accordingly.
Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Aqeel, deputy minister for Local Media, had previously indicated that the ceiling of freedom at the Riyadh International Book Fair was increased in comparison to other exhibitions in various Arab countries, noting that complaints this year are lower than previous years.
“The adopted regulatory standards by the ministry in the Riyadh Exhibition remain unchanged according to the religious, political and historical constants of the Kingdom,” added Al-Aqeel, noting that any materials that violate these regulations are prohibited.