Culture Ministry launches books at DIBF; symposium discusses Gulf cultural scene

Within the framework of the cultural activities of the 31st Doha International Book Fair (DIBF), a symposium entitled "Gulf cultural landscape: challenges and opportunities" was held on Friday evening, during which the participants discussed the most important challenges facing cultural work in the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) and ways to enhance joint cultural cooperation.HE Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani and a group of people interested in cultural affairs attended the symposium, which witnessed the participation of Kuwaiti academic, publisher, and media professor Dr Ahmed al-Haider, Head of Hail Literary Club in Saudi Arabia Dr Nayef al-Muhaileb (remotely), and Head of the Cultural Committee at the College of Arts and Social Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University Said al-Siyabi (remotely).The symposium, which was moderated by Qatari novelist, academic, and media professor at the Community College Dr Ahmed Abdul Malik addressed several themes, particularly the Covid-19 impact on the cultural movement in the Gulf countries, the GCC role in promoting cultural mobility, the role of clubs and non-governmental cultural associations in enriching the Gulf cultural scene, and the cultural influence of Gulf and Arab publishing houses. The Ministry of Culture launched various publications at the 31st Doha International Book Fair (DIBF), which is being held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center under the theme "Knowledge is Light".In a statement, Director of the Publications and Translation Department at the Ministry of Culture Mohammed Hassan al-Kuwari stressed the ministry's keenness to participate in the DIBF and introduce its most important publications to the visitors, considering the Ministry of Culture's pavilion as one of the most distinguished pavilions. He pointed out that the new publications are presented electronically on "The digital box" and traditionally on the bookshelves. Al-Kuwari pointed out that the Ministry of Culture is keen on the diversity of the books on display, whether a novel, literary, poetic, intellectual or knowledge, adding that the books are translated into various languages: English, French, Spanish and Turkish. He explained that the ministry's pavilion witnesses the participation of the Public Relations and Communication Department, the Department of Publications and Translation, the Library Department, the Wijdan Center, the Music Affairs Center, and the Visual Arts Center.