Oman officiates as guest of honour in Doha book fair
The sultanate is participating as guest of honour in the 33rd edition of Doha International Book Fair, which opened on Thursday under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al Thani, Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The event, which runs till May 18, was attended by H H Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth.
Oman is participating in the book fair, themed ‘Knowledge builds civilisations’, with a twowing pavilion. The first wing showcases a range of Omani publications - from government institutions and civil society associations - while the second displays publications by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MCSY), the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and Sultan Qaboos University.
This is in addition to selected publications from Omani Society of Writers and Literati, the Cultural Club, Oman Memory Centre, and other cultural entities that highlight Omani heritage, intellectual and literary products, and popular and artistic aspects.
The design of Oman’s 160sqm pavilion was inspired by Al Alam Palace’s architectural style and decor with the sea depicted in it representing the depth of Oman’s maritime history.
Ahmed Saud al Rawahi, Assistant Director-general for Knowledge and Cultural Development at MCSY, informed that Oman’s participation in Doha International Book Fair embodies the depth of fraternal bonds between the peoples of Oman and Qatar.
According to Rawahi, several publications will be launched at the event, including an encyclopaedia for young people ( Mawsu’at al Nashi’aa), a book documenting recent artistic accomplishments ( Al Munjaz Al Tashkeeli) and a book titled ‘Treasury of Manuscripts in Oman’.
MOU in culture
On the sidelines of the book fair, Oman and Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in the field of culture.
The agreement, signed by H E Saeed bin Sultan al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Culture in MCSY, and Dr Ghanem bin Mubarak al Ali, Undersecretary in Qatari Ministry of Culture, will focus on enhancing cooperation across multiple cultural spheres. These include publishing, authorship, translation, digitisation, music, theatre, libraries, archiving, and the protection of intangible cultural heritage.
Additionally, the MOU aims to strengthen ties between cultural institutions and facilitate the exchange of cultural events and initiatives.