Riyadh International Book Fair 2024

Riyadh International Book Fair 2024 is an international cultural event organized by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, one of the commissions affiliated with the Saudi Ministry of Culture, under the slogan “Riyadh Reads.” It was held from September 26 to October 5, 2024, at King Saud University in Riyadh City, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

About two thousand publishing houses from thirty countries participated in the Riyadh International Book Fair 2024, distributed across eight hundred pavilions, along with the participation of Saudi, Arab, and international cultural institutions and entities. The fair serves as a platform for publishers and for intellectual and cultural exchange, as well as a gathering place for authors, thinkers, cultural producers, and book enthusiasts from inside and outside the Kingdom.

Riyadh International Book Fair 2024 aims to present an integrated strategy to support the Kingdom’s cultural leadership both regionally and globally. It also seeks to position culture as one of the key enablers for raising cultural and intellectual awareness in society, enhancing the economy of creative and intellectual industries, and empowering the Saudi publishing, authorship, and translation movement. Ultimately, it aims to improve the quality of life and contribute to economic, social, and national growth.

The State of Qatar was the Guest of Honor at the Riyadh International Book Fair 2024, contributing a cultural experience reflecting its literary and intellectual output, as well as its cultural heritage, history, and diverse arts. This was showcased through a dedicated pavilion featuring manuscripts and publications from the Qatari Ministry of Culture, along with the participation of several Qatari intellectuals and creatives.

Riyadh International Book Fair 2024 witnessed the return of the “Riyadh Reads French” initiative, first launched at the 2023 edition of the fair, which gathered many French publishers specialized in various fields and had previously seen significant interaction from fair visitors. The initiative was developed further for its new edition, expanding activities especially targeting children, offering about 25,000 books and including the participation of 118 French publishing houses, as well as the French Cultural Institute, which provided free French language courses to fair visitors.

Riyadh International Book Fair 2024 featured a commemorative corridor honoring Prince Badr Bin Abdulmohsen, celebrating his literary and cultural achievements and his poetic legacy, highlighting his impact on the cultural scene in both the Kingdom and the Arab world.

Additionally, the fair included about two hundred events and activities suitable for all age groups. In addition, it featured seminars, discussion sessions, lectures, poetry evenings, artistic and theatrical performances, and workshops that addressed a variety of topics across different fields. A select group of thinkers, writers, and intellectuals from the Kingdom and around the world participated in these events.

The fair brought together literary, publishing, and translation practitioners from local and international publishing houses and institutions, as well as readers and those interested in cultural affairs and fields of knowledge. A special area was dedicated to children, featuring diverse entertaining and cultural activities, in addition to a special corner showcasing the works of Saudi authors and platforms dedicated to book signings.

At the conclusion of the fair’s events, the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission honored the winners of the Riyadh International Book Fair 2024 awards. Takween United Publishing and Distribution Group won the Excellence in Publishing Award, which is granted to a publisher that has presented high-quality and creatively impactful publications with cultural influence. Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press won the Excellence in Publishing Award in the children’s category, granted to those who make efforts to provide content enriching children’s minds and encouraging them to read and learn. Jabal Amman Publishers also received the Excellence in Publishing Award in the digital platforms category, while Aseer Alkotb for Publishing and Distribution was awarded the Excellence in Publishing Award in the translation category. As for the Excellence in Publishing Award, which supports and encourages local creativity and is granted to outstanding Saudi content reflecting the Kingdom’s rich culture and heritage, it was won by Taatheer Publishing and Distribution.