Sana’a holds 24th International Book Fair

Customers peruse books of all genres at the Sana’a Expo Center where the Book Fair will continue until Nov. 2.

Books of all genres and languages are for sale at the 24th annual Sana’a International Book Fair, which began on Monday.

The fair, organized by the General Authority for Books, is a chance to see books of all types under one roof, said Faris al-Saqqaf, head of the GAB. “It is a re-consideration of the book as we know it.” 

The fair also includes a number of cultural events such as concerts, lectures, and books signings. “The fair is an appropriate event to engage cultural businesses and activities,” said al-Saqqaf.  

More than 270 local and foreign publishing houses and 14 official publishers from various Arab countries will display over 500,000 titles during the book fair. The fair runs until November 2. 

As was the case last year, the books are being sold at the same price as bookshops. “We usually don’t sell as much at the fair as we do in our bookshop,” said Abdul-Hakim al-Muraibi of the Scientific House. “Most of the people come to the fair to ask for books and publishers so they now where to find them later on. Many people, especially students, do not have that much money to buy the books seen in these publishing houses,” he said.  

Al-Saqqaf said that in each fair, the GAB learns from previous mistakes and shortcomings and works to overcome them. During this fair we have created a “sidewalk area” outside the fair, which offers stock books for people at low prices.

Al-Saqqaf also disclosed that the establishment of a Yemeni Publishers Union would be officially announced during the fair. The union is being established because of the increasing number of Yemeni publications and will aim to become a member of the Arab Publishers Union.

“The Sana’a International Book Fair is one of the most important Arabic book fairs and should not be missed by any Arab publishing houses due to the number of readers in Yemen,” said Rafiq Abdul-Razzaq, owner of the Egyptian al-Saeedah Children Company. “Yemeni people are educated and love to read,” he said. 

Al-Saqqaf said that many Arab and international publishers were keen to participate in the fair. “Such fairs are good to market and display books. The Sana’a book fair is very important coming second only to the Cairo International Fair in the Arab world.”

The 24th International Book Fair also marked the beginning of a major National Library project sponsored by the GAB at an estimated cost of up $40 million. According to al-Saqqaf the National Library project consists of 59 different components including, the creation of a center for manuscripts and special rooms for children and a number of rooms for symposiums and exhibitions. It will also include a center for studies and research; a unit for electronic books; a center for languages; and theater and documentary room.  

“The fair coincides with celebrations for the Yemeni revolutions of September, October and November,” said Prime Minister Mujawar, who attended the opening. “This carries connotations of these celebrations such as the opening of this great fair for book that combine several Yemeni and international publishing houses.” 

Mujawar said that regular sessions of the fair reflect the government’s commitment to Yemeni culture. “The fair is important in the consolidation of Yemeni culture since the book is still the basic resource for culture. Even with the evolution of technology and the information revolution, the book remains very important. The government is keen to develop such fairs annually so that they become distinct book fairs. Yemeni culture should be consolidated for the next generation, which must learn to read.”  The Prime Minister praised the efforts made by the Ministry of Culture and the General Authority of Books, which organized the fair and expressed satisfaction with the management and diversity of books displayed.  

The Ministry of Culture and the University of Sana’a previously organized the Sana’a International Book Fair, but the GAB took over responsibility for organizing it last year.

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