14th Muscat International Book Fair opens this evening under the theme Al Quds, Capital of Arab Culture for 2009. As many as 570 publishing houses from 25 countries, besides Oman and 30 Omani bookshops, will take part in the fair that will run through till March 16 at the Oman International Exhibition Centre.

The book fair will be open to the public daily from 9 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 10 pm except for Friday when the book fair will be open from 5 pm to 10 pm. The morning sessions of February 28 and March 2 will be for women.

A number of cultural events will be held, including lectures titled: “The Reality of Al Quds and Cultural Requirements” by Dr Al Mutawakil Taha, Under-Secretary of the Palestine Information Ministry; “The Development of Novel and Story Writing, the Role of Women in the Cultural Movement in the Arabian Gulf” by Basma Mohammed Yunis.

Muscat International Book Fair has emerged as the third biggest exhibition in the Middle East, after Egyptian and Lebanese book fairs.

For more information, visit the Oman daily observer website.

Image credits: Ahed Izhiman, AFP, Getty Images