JEDDAH: The fifth annual Jeddah International Book Fair concluded on Saturday. The 10-day event was held under the patronage of Makkah Gov. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal.
The fair covered 30,000 sq. meters, was visited by 441,369 people, and featured more than 50 diverse activities.
Some 400 local, Arab and international publishing houses participated with 350,000 titles in various fields, while more than 200 authors signed books.
Prince Mishaal bin Majed, Jeddah governor and chairman of the fair’s Supreme Organizing Committee, thanked King Salman and the crown prince for the event’s success, and for entrusting Jeddah with organizing it.
Over the past five years, the fair has received more than 2.7 million visitors, and has been “keen to provide knowledge enrichment and cultural content that emanates from the cultural heritage on which the Kingdom depends as a tributary of science and knowledge,” Prince Mishaal said.
He hailed the attention and care accorded by Prince Khalid to the fair since its launch, which has turned it into a beacon of culture, thought and creativity.
Prince Mishaal said the fair’s success has been enabled by cooperation among various government sectors and community institutions.
“The exhibition, throughout its five editions, has provided opportunities to 1,820 local, regional and international publishing houses from 50 countries. It also saw some 1,000 authors signing their books,” he said, adding that the Kingdom is keen to promote culture, authorship and publishing.
