Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — About 400 publishing houses from 40 Arab and other countries are scheduled to participate in the ten-day Jeddah Book Fair starting in south Ubhur on Wednesday.

Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal will inaugurate the fair’s fifth annual version that will showcase more than 350,000 titles on various aspects of knowledge.

Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal Bin Majed on Saturday toured the exhibition area to check the latest preparations for the great event. He was accompanied by Mayor Saleh Bin Ali Al-Turki and other officials.

The fair will consist of more than 50 activities including, beside the books and publications, workshops on fine arts, photography, Arabic calligraphy, plays, seminars and lectures.

More than 200 male and female writers will take the platform during the fair to sign their books.

Occupying an area of more than 30,000 sq. meters, the fair is considered to be the largest of its kind in the Arab World.

The idea of the fair dates back to 1993 and the first version was held in 1994. It was organized by the Saudi Exhibitions Company before the ministry of culture and information was made responsible for its organization. The fair stopped for about 10 years before it came back to light about five years ago.