DAMASCUS — Saudi Arabia inaugurated its Guest of Honor pavilion at the Damascus International Book Fair 2026 on Tuesday.The pavilion was opened by Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, who also chairs the board of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, in the presence of Syrian Minister of Culture Mohammed Yassin Saleh and Qatari Minister of Culture Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani.Saudi Arabia is participating as Guest of Honor at this year’s edition of the fair, which runs until Feb. 16, in a move that reflects the Kingdom’s cultural leadership and its commitment to strengthening Arab cultural exchange.The participation aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which positions culture as a platform for dialogue, a bridge for civilizational communication, and a tool for fostering closer ties among Arab societies.The Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission is leading the Kingdom’s participation in an institutional framework that highlights the development of Saudi Arabia’s literary, publishing, and translation sectors, while reaffirming the central role of books as carriers of knowledge and awareness.Commission CEO Abdulatif Alwasel said Saudi Arabia’s selection as Guest of Honor reflects its leadership in the Arab cultural scene and its belief in culture as a space for dialogue and shared creativity.He added that the Kingdom’s presence in Damascus underscores the depth of Saudi-Syrian relations, built on partnership and mutual respect, and reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to enhancing cultural exchange as a key pillar of its national strategy under Vision 2030.The Saudi pavilion showcases the diversity of the Kingdom’s cultural and creative landscape through a comprehensive program that includes intellectual seminars, poetry evenings, a manuscripts exhibition, a Saudi fashion corner, hospitality displays, replicas of archaeological artifacts, and performances of traditional Saudi arts.Visitors to the fair are offered an immersive introduction to Saudi culture in its literary, heritage, and human dimensions, presented within a unified Arab cultural spirit that highlights the role of culture in building understanding and shared meaning.Organizers described this edition of the Damascus International Book Fair as a significant cultural moment, reaffirming the value of books as a space for dialogue and a foundation for a more open and conscious Arab cultural future.
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