SAUDI ARABIA: International book fair continues in Riyadh, attracting hundreds of publishing houses, with Spain a guest of honour

Record ID: 189341

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: International book fair continues in Riyadh, attracting hundreds of publishing houses, with Spain a guest of honour
  • Date: 11th March 2014
  • Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (MARCH 9, 2014) (REUTERS) VISITORS ENTERING RIYADH BOOK FAIR 2014 LOGO OF RIYADH BOOK FAIR 2014 WITH ARABIC AND ENGLISH WRITING (RIYADH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR) VARIOUS OF VISITORS MOROCCO AND LEBANON FLAGS SPANISH SECTION (GUEST OF HONOUR THIS YEAR) VARIOUS OF DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF BOOKS PROMOTION IN SPANISH SECTION SPEAKING TO VISITOR CLOSE OF VISITOR LOOKING AT SPANISH BOOK (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISABEL RUIZ, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF BOOKS PROMOTION-SPANISH MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, CULTURE AND SPORTS, SAYING: "For me is a surprise in this country such interest for the books and such quantity of people buying books and seeing books, it is good, I think it's very interesting." LOGO OF SPAIN KINGDOM WITH ARABIC (EMBASSY OF SPAIN IN SAUDI ARABIA) SAUDI WOMEN LOOKING AT SPANISH BOOKS VARIOUS OF SPANISH BOOKS ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI CULTURAL ACTIVIST, OM ABDULLAH, SAYING: "I noticed that there is a strong return to Islam and interest of the Islamic heritage in Spain." VISITORS VARIOUS OF SAUDI EDUCATIONAL ADVISOR SINGING HER BOOK TO GIRL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI EDUCATIONAL ADVISOR, AYSHAH ADEL, SAYING: "The book is a heuristic preventive guide prompt for children from the age of five years and above, it's also for children under five years but with parental control." CLOSE OF AYSHA ADEL BOOK WITH ARABIC WRITING (DO NOT ALLOW THEM - How to protect yourself from harassment) VISITORS SAUDI WOMEN READING BOOK (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI JUDGE, SA'AD AL-ADWANI, SAYING: "Really there are a lot of changes this year, firstly there are many books and publishing houses. Also there is a large turnout from the public, especially from women." VISITORS LOOKING AT BOOKS IN GERMAN SECTION VARIOUS OF BOOKS IN GERMAN SECTION VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS SPEAKING TO VISITORS IN GERMAN SECTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANAGER INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS FROM FRANKFURTER BUCHMESSE (BOOK FAIR), CLAUDIA DOBRY, SAYING: "We are participating for the first time at the Riyadh International Book Fair and it's really a new experience for me to be here and it is my first time to be in Saudi Arabia. we are showing here around 150 books from 80 publishing houses from different collections." GERMAN BOOKS ON STAND VARIOUS OF VISITOR LOOKING AT BOOK VISITORS WALKING AT RIYADH BOOK FAIR
  • Embargoed: 26th March 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA1LGGNMXHRWL5JIYZ7Y62IULEV
  • Story Text: The Riyadh International Book Fair (RIBF), one of the capital's most eagerly anticipated cultural events, has been attracting thousands of visitors every day throughout its 10-day run (March 4-14) at the Riyadh International Conventions and Exhibition Centre (RICEC) Over 900 publishers from 31 Arab and other countries displayed an estimated 600,000 titles, according to Al Shorfa website.
    The fair, promoted by the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information, is titled 'The Book: Vault of Civilisation', and attracts not just book sellers, intellectuals, authors and academics, but also ordinary families. One of the aims of this year's event has been promoting reading amongst children.
    The fair has also attracted Spain as its guest of honour. The country's stand highlighted cultural ties between Spain and the Arabs, with books on Spain's Islamic links proving popular.

    "I noticed that there is a strong return to Islam and interest of the Islamic heritage in Spain," Saudi Cultural activist, Om Abdullah, told Reuters.
    One of the books being promoted for children was 'Do not allow them - How to protect yourself from abuse'.

    "The book is a heuristic preventive guide prompt for children from the age of five years and above, it's also for children under five years but with parental control," explained Saudi Educational Advisor, Ayshah Adel.
    The internationally renowned Frankfurt Book Fair was participating for the first time at Riyadh.

    "We are participating for the first time at the Riyadh International Book Fair and it's really a new experience for me to be here and it is my first time to be in Saudi Arabia. we are showing here around 150 books from 80 publishing houses from different collections," said Frankfurt representative Claudia Dobry.
    Regional media reports suggest up to a million people may visit the fair over 10 days. Doors are opened to students for the last four days.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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