By Samar Al-Harthi

SHARJAH — Saudi Arabia participated in the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (November 5–16, 2025) with a national pavilion that presented a curated look at the Kingdom’s evolving literary and cultural landscape, while fostering connections with regional and international publishing communities.

Led by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, the pavilion brought together major national institutions including King Abdulaziz University, the King Fahd National Library, the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance.

The collective presence highlighted the progress of Saudi Arabia’s publishing, literary, and translation sectors, and offered a space for dialogue with global publishers, cultural organizations, and creative professionals.

The pavilion’s cultural program featured literary discussions, conversations with Saudi authors and academics, interactive workshops, and poetry evenings that showcased the depth and diversity of Saudi writing within the wider Arab creative scene.

The participation aligns with Vision 2030, which places cultural development and the growth of creative industries among its national priorities. The pavilion forms part of ongoing efforts to build a more connected and internationally engaged publishing ecosystem.

The fair also provided a valuable platform for Saudi publishers to meet international partners, expand business networks, and explore opportunities in translation, rights exchange, and global distribution. It additionally strengthened cultural ties between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, underscoring the role of literature as a shared space for dialogue and understanding across the Gulf and beyond.

The pavilion emphasized the Kingdom’s increasing role in the regional publishing landscape—engaging with global trends, contributing to intellectual exchange, and supporting a new generation of writers and translators.

Saudi Arabia’s participation at Sharjah International Book Fair 2025 delivered a clear message: the Kingdom is steadily advancing toward a more open, collaborative publishing culture rooted in its heritage and oriented toward the future.

More than a showcase of books, the pavilion served as a meeting ground for ideas, creativity, and cultural sustainability, reaffirming the central place of literature and the written word in the Kingdom’s vision for knowledge and human connection.