Oman
to be Guest of Honour at Kuwait International Book Fair

Muscat,
17 Nov 2025 (ONA) — The Sultanate of Oman will be the Guest of Honour at the 48th
edition of the Kuwait International Book Fair, held under the slogan “Capital
of Culture…Homeland of Books “. The fair takes place at the
International Fair Grounds in Mishref from 19-29 November.

Oman’s
pavilion in the book fair comprises the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth,
the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs,
the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, the National Records and Archives
Authority, the Cultural Club, Bait Al Zubair Foundation, the Omani Society for
Writers and Literati, and the Oman Memory Center.

A
group of Omani private libraries and publishing houses are also participating.
The fair’s management selected Mohammed bin Al Zubair as the Personality of
this year’s edition, in appreciation of his great national contributions,
particularly in the field of culture and arts.

Sayyid
Said bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports
and Youth for Culture, emphasized that participation in the Kuwait
International Book Fair is of special importance, especially as Kuwait
celebrates being the Capital of Arab Culture and Media for 2025. He noted that
it presents a favorable opportunity to share the celebration of this major
annual cultural event, which is an important cultural platform.

Al
Busaidi added that this participation comes within the framework of cultural
exchange between the two countries, solidifying strong relations at various
levels, and enhancing the Omani presence in international cultural forums. It
also aims to disseminate and introduce Omani intellectual output, and highlight
the civilizational and historical achievements of the Sultanate of Oman in
various forums. This interaction also seeks to achieve cultural engagement that
brings together writers, readers, intellectuals, and various publishing houses.
The participation also aims to promote Omani tourism components and invest in
culture that enhances Oman’s global standing.

The
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture
explained that the Omani pavilion draws its inspiration from the Renewed
Renaissance and the ancient civilization to present an integrated image of the
cultural identity. Its details carry the spirit of Omani history, passing
through its rich cultural heritage that extended through the ages, reaching its
scholars who left their mark in various fields of science and knowledge. The
participation will include diverse cultural elements, such as an exhibition of
Omani intellectual output from government and civil society institutions, a
corner dedicated to Omani-Kuwaiti relations highlighting the bilateral
relations concerning Omani-Kuwaiti seaports, documented in texts and by Arab
and foreign travelers. Additionally, there will be an exhibition of Omani
documents and manuscripts.

He
added that the pavilion aims to highlight the inscriptions of ancient Omani
manuscripts, and an exhibition of Omani cultural elements registered on the
World Heritage List. It will also feature an electronic corner for e-books and
audiobooks, the “Ayn Platform”, an Augmented Reality (AR) and
Hologram technology corner to display some Omani cultural elements, in addition
to an Omani photography corner, and a tourism promotion exhibition to introduce
the cultural, civilizational, and tourism components of the Sultanate of Oman.
A display screen will showcase the achievements of the modern Omani
Renaissance, its civilization, and its cultural and tourism features. The
pavilion will also include the Omani Majlis, which will welcome its visitors
with authentic Omani hospitality.

He
clarified that the cultural program prepared for this participation includes
the preparation and implementation of an extensive cultural program that
reflects Omani creative diversity, highlights the national identity, and
strengthens the fraternal relations between the two countries in particular and
the Arab cultural dialogue in general. This includes a package of diverse
events, including celebrating the fair’s personality, Mohammed bin Al Zubair,
and dialogue sessions on several topics, notably the historical and cultural
commonalities between Oman and Kuwait, Omani-Kuwaiti relations, architectural
history, and Omani fashion. Omani folk arts will also be presented daily at the
fair.

It
is noteworthy that the selection of the Sultanate of Oman as the Guest of
Honour for this session is an appreciation for its prominent contributions to
the Arab cultural movement, an acknowledgment of the richness of the Omani
literary and intellectual scene, and its pioneering role in preserving heritage
and promoting cultural identity. It also highlights the strong fraternal
relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the State of Kuwait and reflects
the role of culture in building bridges between peoples and promoting civilized
dialogue in the region.

The
Kuwait International Book Fair is one of the important exhibitions due to the
significant turnout it witnesses from various age groups and cultural and
intellectual elites, as well as cultural, scientific, and educational
institutions keen to visit the Omani pavilion to obtain important books and
references in all fields. It is also considered one of the most important
cultural exhibitions concerned with the circulation of the publishing process
and the book industry, and is classified among the top exhibitions at the Arab
and international levels.

—Ends/AG