Muscat – The 26th edition of Muscat International Book Fair, which will commence on Thursday at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre under the auspices of H H Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, is eagerly awaited by book enthusiasts in Oman.

The fair will be held until March 5 and will have participation of 715 publishing houses, of which 570 publishing houses will be participating directly, while 145 through agencies representing 27 countries.

“I am eagerly waiting for the book fair and I hope it will be a real treat for book lovers, especially Arabic language readers. I have been waiting for this fair for long time and I will make it a point to attend it the first day. I am sure there will be many book sellers and publishers from the GCC and beyond,” Afraah Nizar, an avid reader and a poet, said.

Bader al Kiyumi, another book lover, said, “I developed the habit of reading few years ago and I have to say that reading has helped me so much. Because of reading, I have developed my writing skills. I have now written two books on life experiences in Arabic. Books give me more ideas and enhance my general knowledge,” he said.

Muscat International Book Fair was first held in 1992. The fair will also host 114 cultural events, including 85 activities for children and families.