The Jeddah Book Fair 2025, running in the Jeddah Superdome venue from 11 to 20 December, opened under the theme “Jeddah Reads,” bringing together more than 1,000 publishers and agencies from 24 countries across 400 pavilions.
The annual event features over 170 cultural programs, including seminars, panel discussions, lectures, poetry evenings, and workshops, with participation from leading writers and intellectuals. A dedicated children’s area offers interactive programs designed to foster creativity and cultural engagement among younger audiences.
A highlight of the fair is the Saudi Authors Corner, which showcases self-published works and allows writers to engage directly with the public. There are also book-signing areas that provide opportunities for attendees to meet authors and acquire signed editions.
The fair has consistently grown in both the number of visitors and publishing-house sales since the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission took over organizing Saudi book fairs in 2021, according to Bassam Al-Bassam, general manager of the Publishing General Department.
“We are currently developing the sector’s core regulations and policies to facilitate the publishing process in Saudi Arabia … and enhance the sector’s overall value,” Al-Bassam stated.
Through the event, the Ministry of Culture is releasing a report documenting the state of Saudi culture from 2019 to 2024. Each year of the report focuses on a specific theme, illustrating the major trends and issues shaping the nation’s cultural sector under Vision 2030.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the pavilion provides a panoramic view of Saudi culture, presenting key programs, initiatives, and activities implemented over the past five years to foster broad societal engagement and position culture as a pillar of national development.
The fair comes in alignment with the Ministry of Culture’s efforts to highlight Saudi Arabia’s cultural achievements. Its pavilion presents the country’s accomplishments within a knowledge-based framework, offering researchers, intellectuals, and the general public an interactive environment that celebrates literature while envisioning the future of culture in the kingdom.
The Jeddah Book Fair 2025 continues to welcome visitors daily from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM, with free admission.
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