Kuwait Int’l Book Fair wraps up with nearly half a million visitors, 287,000 titles
Of the 611 publishing houses, 433 took part directly, 178 participated through agencies, and 39 joined the fair for the first time, reflecting growing global interest in Kuwait’s cultural landscape.
The Kuwait International Book Fair concluded its 48th edition on Saturday, closing a vibrant ten-day cultural event that welcomed approximately 477,560 visitors and showcased more than 287,000 book titles from 611 publishing houses representing 33 Arab and foreign countries.
Held under the patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, the exhibition witnessed strong regional and international participation, reports Al-Rai daily.
Of the 611 publishing houses, 433 took part directly, 178 participated through agencies, and 39 joined the fair for the first time, reflecting growing global interest in Kuwait’s cultural landscape.
This year’s session featured an extensive collection of titles, including around 35,000 new books, and was enriched by a diverse program of events for both adults and children. Activities included workshops, literary evenings, seminars, lectures, and dialogue sessions hosted across the Cultural Pavilion, Cultural Café, and Children’s Pavilion.
The 2025 edition coincided with Kuwait’s designation as the Arab Capital of Culture and Media, adding special significance to the fair. The Sultanate of Oman was honored as the guest of the year, recognizing its prominent cultural contributions.
As part of its celebrations, the fair selected Mohammed bin Al Zubair—retired advisor to the Sultan of Oman for economic planning affairs and founder of Bait Al-Ummal—as its Cultural Personality of the Year, honoring his distinguished role in advancing Arab cultural presence.
Under the slogan “Capital of Culture… Home of the Book”, the 48th edition also highlighted creative youth talent. Over 1,240 books were printed under the “I Am the Author” project, an initiative that encourages children to write and publish their own works.
Additionally, 84 publishing houses participated in the professional program for Arab publishers, aimed at supporting the development and expansion of the publishing industry.
The fair’s strong turnout and diverse programming reaffirmed Kuwait’s continued commitment to promoting literature, knowledge, and cultural exchange in the Arab world.
