The 29th Muscat International Book Fair had a grand opening on April 24, 2025 and continued until May 3 at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center, presided over by HH Sayyid Dr. Fahd Al Julanda Al Said, Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University. The grand opening was witnessed by the honor of Sheikh Dr. Sultan Mohammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah and Member of the UAE Supreme Council.
This year’s exhibition features an impressive 681,041 publications including 467,413 in Arabic and 213,610 in others. Oman’s participation consists of 27,464 books, which includes 52,205 new books from 2024-2025. A total of 674 publishers are here from 35 countries, including 640 direct exhibitors and 34 exhibitors represented by agents.
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With the theme “Cultural Diversity: Enriching Civilizations,” the event will have dedicated children’s zones, cultural cafes, workshops and an Arabic language corner. In total, more than 155 cultural and entertainment events will take place, including puppet shows, youth programs and interactive events.
North Al Sharqiyah Governorate, the guest of honor will showcase its heritage, tourism and contemporary accomplishments in two exhibitions, an AI-assisted advanced promotion platform, and a total of fifteen specialized events. In addition, Saudi Arabia introduced 38 local publishers and exhibits to celebrate the Saudi Cultural Days, as a way of involving the Omani and Saudi connections.
It is significant to note that Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi also introduced his grand 21-volume publication The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman, which contains over 10,000 pages of historical content.
The fair had a strong regional representation, especially from Qatar, Kuwait and other regions, the fair allowed for important dialogue and intellectual exchange, confirming a growing identity for Muscat as a global centre of literary and cultural discovery.