Emirati Delegation Visits Riyadh International Book Fair

A UAE delegation, led by Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, has visited the "Riyadh International Book Fair 2019," which is currently being held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre

RIYADH, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 21st Mar, 2019) A UAE delegation, led by Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, has visited the "Riyadh International Book Fair 2019," which is currently being held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The delegation included Zaki Nusseibeh, Minister of State; Mohamed Ahmed Al Mur, Chairman of the Etihad Museum Advisory Committee; Habib Al Sayegh, Secretary-General of the General Union of Arab Writers; Dr. Rashid Al Nuaimi, Executive Director of Media Affairs at the National Media Council; along with 41 senior officials, intellectuals, writers and poets.

The delegation was received by Hamed bin Mohammed Fayez, Saudi Deputy Minister of Culture; Abdullah bin Hassan Al Kanani, Director of the Riyadh International Book Fair and General Supervisor of the libraries at the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information, and other officials.

The UAE delegation was briefed on the recent publications being showcased during the fair, which is hosting over 913 publishing houses and cultural and academic institutions from 30 Arab and international countries, as well as more than 1,700 participants.

The delegation toured the fair and viewed the "Knowledge Gallery," which showcases youth initiatives by university students, as well as signature platforms and the "Children’s Pavilion."

The delegation also visited the pavilion of Bahrain, which is the guest of honour at this year’s fair, and explored its key cultural achievements.

Al Kaabi and her delegation also explored the pavilions of participating Emirati publishing houses and their initiatives related to knowledge and reading.

During her tour, Al Kaabi met with owners of Arab publishing houses and libraries and talked about topics related to publishing and books. She also praised the fair’s various cultural, literary and artistic programmes, which reflect the significant cultural development between the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

"We are proud to be present at the Riyadh International Book Fair, which is witnessing significant annual development. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have strong ties and enjoy a long-standing cultural and historical heritage, which reinforce their understanding and overall coordination, reflected by the selection of the UAE as the guest of honour of last year’s fair," Al Kaabi said.

She also praised the efforts of the Saudi Ministry of Culture in strengthening Saudi Arabia’s cultural movement, as well as the organisation of the event.

In turn, Nusseibeh praised the UAE’s participation in the fair, noting that the two countries have strong cultural ties, whose foundations were established by the two countries wise leaderships.

For his part, Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, UAE Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, stated that the participation of decision-makers, intellectuals, and writers from the UAE in the fair highlights the deep ties between the two countries.