HE the Prime Minister opens Doha International Book Fair
HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, inaugurated the 34th Doha International Book Fair at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center under the theme ‘From Engraving to Writing.’
During the opening ceremony, HE the Prime Minister toured the exhibition, viewing the latest publications, manuscripts and literary works from the Ministry of Culture and various government entities. HE Sheikh Mohammed also unveiled the newly revamped Doha Magazine, a publication under the Ministry of Culture.
“This year’s theme reflects the continuous evolution of our cultural journey and reaffirms culture’s essential role in Qatar’s national development,” said HE Sheikh Mohammed, “The exhibition stands as a premier cultural event embodying Qatar’s vision in which knowledge and intellectual pursuit are foundational to building a future of awareness and creativity.”
The 34th edition marks the largest in the fair’s history, bringing together 522 publishing houses from 43 countries. The event features strong representation from ministries, public and private institutions, and diplomatic missions accredited to the State of Qatar. The 2025 catalogue showcases approximately 166,000 books across various genres and languages.
A dedicated pavilion for this year’s guest of honour, Palestine, is showcasing Palestinian literary heritage, literary contributions and cultural arts through specialised programs and performances throughout the duration of the event.
The Ministry of Culture has organised a comprehensive program of cultural and artistic events featuring prominent Arab intellectuals participating in seminars, lectures, poetry readings, theatrical performances and specialised workshops.
The event also houses a dedicated children’s area, offering books and interactive activities designed to encourage reading habits among children, theatre performances and cultural programs.
The Ministry of Culture will announce the winners of the prestigious Doha International Book Fair Awards for publishers and authors, reinforcing Qatar’s commitment to supporting literary and publishing excellence.
This year’s fair also introduces the first professional literary exchange program, an initiative designed to strengthen literary cooperation, facilitate publishing rights exchanges and support translation projects between Qatar and the international literary community.
Established in 1972, the Doha International Book Fair stands among the region’s oldest and most significant literary events. Initially held biennially, the fair transitioned to an annual format in 2002, reflecting its growing importance in the regional and international cultural landscape.
