The 2025 fair, themed “From Engraving to Writing”, marks the debut of 11 Palestinian publishers at the Doha event, highlighting a significant expansion of Palestinian cultural influence.
The 34th edition of the Doha International Book Fair opened on Thursday at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, in what organisers say is the largest iteration of the event to date. This year’s fair shines a spotlight on Palestine, featured as Guest of Honour.
Palestinian Minister of Culture, Emad Al Din Hamdan, inaugurated the Palestinian pavilion with a ceremony marked by children’s poetry recitations — verses that paid tribute to the resilience and cultural heritage of the Palestinian people.
“We are very proud to participate in this event,” Hamdan told Doha News. “Our message is that Palestine is present everywhere. We are rooted in culture, and we must be part of significant events, especially one as important as this exhibition in Qatar.”
The 2025 fair, held under the theme “From Engraving to Writing”, introduces 11 Palestinian publishers to the Doha audience for the first time — a symbolic gesture underscoring a growing cultural presence.
With hundreds of local and international exhibitors expected, the fair continues to serve as a regional hub for literary exchange and dialogue.
Minister Hamdan stressed the importance of cultural forums in bringing international attention to the Palestinian cause. “We are here to speak about what we are facing in Palestine, especially the genocide in Gaza and the recent attacks in the northwestern West Bank and refugee camps,” he said.
This year’s edition also marks a record turnout, with 522 publishing houses from 43 countries taking part. Among them is Syria’s Al Halbouni Street Libraries, making its debut appearance and known for its extensive collection of historical and rare books.
For the first time, publishers from the United States and the United Kingdom are also participating — a development that reflects the fair’s growing global footprint.
The event catalogue for this year’s Doha International Book Fair features approximately 166,000 book titles, spanning a wide array of genres, languages, and subjects.
At the Ministry of Culture’s pavilion, visitors have the opportunity to explore newly released publications, interact with authors, and witness a state-of-the-art digital printer producing official ministry books live.
A standout feature of this year’s fair is the launch of the inaugural Literary Exchange Program, aimed at fostering collaboration between Qatari and international publishers. The program will focus on supporting translation, rights exchanges, and strengthening connections between diverse literary cultures.
The Doha International Book Fair Awards will also recognise excellence across several categories, including Outstanding Publisher (both local and international), Outstanding Publisher in Children’s Books, Creativity Award for Authors, and the Young Qatari Writer Award.
Cultural and literary events will take centre stage on the fair’s main stage, where a packed schedule of seminars, lectures, poetry evenings, theatrical performances, and interactive workshops awaits visitors.
There will be a special focus on children and young adult engagement, with a dedicated section for leading children’s book publishers and specially curated performances and reading events.
The fair is open daily from 9 am to 10 pm, with extended hours on Fridays from 3 pm to 10 pm. It will run until May 17.
Originally launched in 1972 under the Qatari National Library, the fair was held biennially until 2002 before becoming an annual event. Over the years, it has gained international recognition, attracting some of the world’s most prominent publishing houses. From just 20 publishers in its inaugural year, the fair hosted 515 publishers from 42 countries in 2024, spanning a vast 29,000 square metres.
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