Monday 17 / November / 2025
Muscat: 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, emphasised 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 favourable 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 audio-books, 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 programme 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.
