المنافسة بين معارض الكتاب في العالم العربي!

Finally, with the launch of the Riyadh International Book Fair, those interested in books and publishing are heading to Riyadh to visit it, as it has gradually transformed into one of the most important events of its kind in the Arab world. It is worth mentioning that Saudi Arabia hosts other book fairs in Jeddah, Medina, and Dhahran. Book fairs in the Arab world are thriving cultural seasons and vibrant competitive arenas, as each city seeks to attract the largest number of publishers, visitors, and thinkers to assert its cultural leadership. This competition, although it may appear to be a rivalry between countries, ultimately enriches the Arab cultural scene and develops the publishing industry.

Main Competition Hubs

The competition is concentrated among historically and recently pivotal fairs, the most notable of which are:

The Cairo International Book Fair: Distinguished by its rich history (established in 1969) and the enormous public turnout that reaches millions annually, making it one of the oldest and largest book fairs in the region and the world. It is considered the most important cultural event in the Arab world in terms of visitor numbers.

The Riyadh International Book Fair: It has significantly developed to become one of the largest and most important fairs in the Arab world, witnessing wide participation from global publishing houses (over 2,000 publishers in some of its editions). It also focuses on supporting the economy of culture and creativity by attracting literary agencies and providing a specialized business area.

The Sharjah International Book Fair / Abu Dhabi International Book Fair: The fairs in the UAE stand out as active forces, with the Sharjah Fair being known globally, while the Abu Dhabi Fair focuses on supporting translation through projects like "Kalima," and aims to provide substantial support to Arab and international publishers.

Aspects of Competition

The competition is not limited to size or the number of visitors; it expands to include several axes:

The economic attractiveness of publishing houses: Fairs compete to provide the best facilities and services to publishing houses to reduce operating costs and attract as many as possible. The cost of printing and publishing varies between countries, which affects publishers' choices.

Parallel cultural programs: Fairs are no longer just markets for selling books; they have transformed into comprehensive cultural festivals. They compete to attract prominent global and local writers and thinkers, organizing rich seminars, discussions, and artistic events to deepen cultural awareness.

Official support and organization: Government bodies play a crucial role in supporting and organizing fairs, with some fairs adopting national visions aimed at enhancing the country's leadership in the publishing industry (such as Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia), which increases their momentum and competitiveness.

Unhealthy competition and challenges: Sometimes, competition is marred by ideological or political conflicts that hinder free cultural exchange (such as the censorship or exclusion of certain publishing houses or books), challenges that major fairs strive to overcome to ensure cultural inclusivity.

In conclusion, the competition among Arab book fairs represents a healthy phenomenon that drives the wheel of culture and publishing forward, transforming these events into major platforms for knowledge exchange and access to the latest Arab and global publications.