Riyadh — Saudi Arabia shows off a large scroll of an ancient Jewish Torah manuscript written in Hebrew, which entranced the guests at the International Bookfair in Riyadh.
The manuscript, part of a collection of 27 rare manuscripts on display, is being showcased at the fair’s special pavilion.
These valuable manuscripts are the property of the King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries, the King Salman Library at the King Saud University, and the King Fahd National Library.
The Riyadh International Book Fair, an annual event, opened its doors to the public on Thursday. It has attracted around 1,800 publishing houses and cultural organizations from all over the world and is expected to welcome approximately one million visitors.
Oman has been designated as the guest of honor for this year’s fair, which will run until October 7. Spanning over 46,000 square meters, the event is the largest in the Arab world in terms of cultural diversity and activities designed for all age groups.
Activities include symposiums, poetry recitals, workshops, children’s events, stage performances, concerts, and the “Book Talk,” where influential thinkers and authors gather.
In a new addition, the fair has organized a poetry recitation competition for children, aimed at enhancing their linguistic, poetic, and personal skills.
Simultaneously, an international conference for publishers is scheduled for October 4, featuring prominent local and foreign speakers discussing various aspects of the publishing industry.
Last year’s edition of the fair involved 1,200 publishing houses from 32 countries. After being postponed in 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the fair resumed in October 2021, continuing to be a vital platform for literary exchange and cultural engagement.
