Saudi Arabia’s Ithra Children’s Book Fair Opens with Syria as Guest of Honor

Saudi Arabia’s Ithra Children’s Book Fair returns with Syria as the guest of honor, featuring 52 publishers, over 250 books, interactive workshops, storytelling sessions, and cultural programs for young readers.
on Jul 22, 2026

Opening of Children’s Book Fair in Saudi Arabia’s Ithra; Syria as Guest of Honor

The sixth Children’s Book Fair has been inaugurated at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, popularly known as Ithra, in Saudi Arabia. The fair will continue for seven days starting from July 20 to 25, during which time Syria will be the guest of honor at the fair, owing to its rich history and tradition of contributing to Arabic children’s literature.

Literary History of Syria on Full Display

The Syrian pavilion has been inaugurated by Mohsen Mahbash, Charge d’Affaires of the Syrian Embassy in Saudi Arabia. The pavilion includes more than 250 children’s books and is meant to illustrate the contribution of Syria in making modern Arabic children’s literature what it is today.

In the words of the Syrian Embassy, the honor of being the guest-of-honor has been accorded to Syria in recognition of its important contribution towards enhancing children’s literature in Arabic language while fostering literary links within the region.

Interactive Learning Through Literature

Beyond book displays, the fair offers an engaging cultural experience for children aged 4 to 14. Visitors can participate in more than 23 activities, including creative workshops, storytelling sessions, author talks, discussion panels, and book signings.

Several Syrian authors are also taking part in the accompanying cultural programs, presenting their works and interacting with young audiences. Many of their books have been published in collaboration with Saudi publishing houses, reflecting the increasing support for Syrian children's literature in recent years

Promoting Reading Among Young Audiences

Ghadeer Yamani, acting head of the Ithra Library, said the book fair is part of Ithra’s ongoing mission to encourage reading among children by providing engaging and educational literary experiences.

She noted that the event creates an interactive environment where young readers can develop creativity, critical thinking, and cultural awareness while exploring literature from different parts of the world.

International Participation Continues to Grow

This year's edition features 52 local and international children's publishers, reinforcing the fair's position as one of the region's leading literary events for young readers.

Since its launch, the Children’s Book Fair has welcomed participation from countries across Europe, Asia, and the Arab world. Previous guest-of-honor nations have included Belgium (2021), Sweden (2022), France (2023), Egypt (2024), South Korea (2025), and Syria (2026), reflecting the event’s commitment to cultural exchange through literature.