Doha, February 01 (QNA) - Qatar University (QU) concluded the second Qatar University Book Fair 2024, organized in collaboration between QU Press and the Qatari Publishers and Distributors Forum at the Ministry of Culture.
The fair spanned five days and featured the participation of 39 publishers and research centers, including 31 from Qatari publishers and centers, along with eight contributions from universities, research centers, and publishers from five Arab countries. The fair, held at the new Student Affairs building on the QU campus, witnessed various cultural events that brought together writers and creators from within Qatar and beyond.
The fair distinguished itself with scholarly sessions and intellectual seminars that engaged researchers, scholars, and academics. These discussions covered various cultural and heritage-related issues in Qatar. The fair also featured cultural and artistic corners, including Arabic calligraphy and the artistic work "Read," presented by Qatari artist Bashair Ali Al Badr. Moreover, there was a special participation by the Sheikh Abdullah Al Ansari Complex for the Holy Quran and Sciences, which displayed a collection of rare manuscripts. The fair also hosted workshops for those interested in learning the art of writing and creativity.
At the conclusion of the fair, Director of QU Press, Prof. Fatma Al Sowaidi, expressed her gratitude for the collaboration with the Ministry of Culture in organizing the event. She stated, "QU Press values this close collaboration with the Ministry of Culture in organizing this cultural event annually. It represents an intellectual, scientific, and heritage celebration that we are committed to nurturing and developing year after year. We aim to expand its horizons to include more universities, Gulf and Arab research centers, and publishing houses, with the inclusion of an honorary guest from an Arab country. This contributes to supporting QU's strategies in promoting Arab and Islamic culture, caring for cultural heritage, protecting it, preserving it, introducing it, and achieving cultural and intellectual security." Dr. Al Sowaidi also spoke about the "Baqoun" (we will stay) event launched by QU Press during this year's fair. She highlighted its goals, saying, "This event aims to shed light on forgotten aspects of our Qatari heritage, including material and artistic architectural effects as well as the cultural and intellectual works of important Qatari poets and writers of the past.
It revives this heritage, broadcasts it into the future, and immortalizes it in the hearts of the youth and future generations. We started this year with a special session on 'Al-Zubarah: Qatar's UNESCO World Heritage City,' the unique historical city that QU Press paid special attention to by issuing a scientific book in Arabic and English in collaboration with Qatar Museums, involving 24 scholars and explorers in the field of heritage and antiquities.
CEO of Rosa Publishing House, Dr. Aisha Al Kuwari, stated, "Rosa Publishing House is one of the Qatari private cultural institutions that was established in 2017 and shows a constant interest in continuing participation in the Qatar University Book Fair due to its significance and impact on students, researchers, and academics within the university campus. It is important to continue organizing this fair annually." Dr. Al Kuwari explained that this year's fair witnessed diversity and development with the participation of several Arab countries, enhancing the exchange of experiences among publishers and contributing to enriching the available knowledge content for students. She emphasized the importance of this diversity in meeting the diverse needs of students for various knowledge sources. She said, "This year, Rosa Publishing House participated in various cultural events, including the launch of new books and the organization of cultural seminars.
Director of Katara Publishing House, Amira Ahmed Al Muhannadi, stated, "This is the second participation of the house in the Qatar University Book Fair since its launch last year. I am glad with the success they achieved at the fair." Al Muhannadi praised the distinctive organization of the events and noted the beautiful and distinctive design of the fair, where the pavilions were organized to allow visitors to move between them easily. She thanked the organizers for the excellent organization and the diverse program of events, as well as the external diversity in participation.
Prof. Rafia Ghubash, the founder of Women's Museum UAE, mentioned that "Upon a gracious invitation from QU, the Women's Studies Center of the Women's Museum in Dubai participated with its publications covering more than eight titles addressing women's issues, including Emirati women as one of the notable headlines." It is worth noting that the Qatar University Book Fair, in its current edition, hosted several entities from the Arab world. This includes Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) from Oman, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, the Center for Research and Knowledge Intercommunication from Saudi Arabia, East Africa Publishing House from Morocco, the Women's Studies Center, the Juma Al Majid Centre for Culture and Heritage from the UAE, and the Nohoudh Center from Kuwait.
Several entities from Qatar participated in the Qatar University Book Fair, including the Qatari Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs; the Qatar National Archive; the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding; the Sheikh Abdullah Al Ansari Complex for the Holy Quran and Sciences; the Sheikh Hassan Bin Mohamed Center for Historical Studies; and the Al-Noor Center for the Blind.
Moreover, various Qatari publishers and distributors such as Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press (HBKU Press), Lusail University Press, Katara Publishing House, Rosa Publishing House, DAR Al-Watad Publishing House, Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, Dar Al Sharq For Printing, Publishing, and Distribution, Kalemat Library, Ktateeb Educational Libraries, Alif Library, Arab Research Center, and others. (QNA)