Doha: Winners of the 35th edition of the Doha International Book Fair Awards were celebrated on Tuesday evening at the fair's main theater. The event witnessed a large gathering of cultural and media figures, reflecting the award's significance in supporting the publishing industry, literary and cultural creativity, and promoting books.
According to Qatar News Agency, Jassim Ahmed Al Buainain, Director of the Libraries Department at the Ministry of Culture and Director of the Doha International Book Fair, presented the awards to the winning publishers and authors. Rosa Publishing House received the Excellence Award for Qatari Publisher, while the Torous Center for Publishing and Distribution from Kuwait won the Excellence Award for International Publisher.
Dar Al Watad for Books and Publications was honored with the Outstanding Qatari Children's Book Publisher Award. The Outstanding International Children's Book Publisher Award went to Al Hudhud Publishing and Distribution from the United Arab Emirates. The Abdul Aziz Al Buhashim Al Sayed Library for Heritage Books was awarded Best Pavilion at the fair, recognized for its distinctive visual and heritage-focused presentation.
In the creative writing category, Rami Mohammed Al Ta'amneh won for his novel "Birth on the Edge," published by the Arab Foundation for Studies and Publishing in Lebanon. Young Qatari writer Amna Irhama Al Buainain received the Young Qatari Writer Creativity Award for "When the Sea Exhales," published by Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press (HBKU Press).
Jassim Ahmed Al Buainain, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the ceremony, noted the strong competition among publishing houses and participants in this second edition of the award, which featured seven categories supporting various sectors of the book and publishing industry. He highlighted the large number of submissions evaluated by the judging committees, signaling growing interest and a strong desire to win the award.
Al Buainain emphasized that the award aims to honor achievement and encourage publishers and writers to produce valuable works enriching the Arab library and serving readers. He congratulated the winners and wished success to future participants, stressing the importance of developing cultural and intellectual content.
The award is organized as part of the Doha International Book Fair's efforts to support publishers and creators, encourage cultural and intellectual production, and honor contributions that enrich the cultural landscape locally, regionally, and internationally. The recognition ceremony was part of a broader program of cultural and intellectual events accompanying the fair.
The Doha International Book Fair continues at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center through Saturday evening, featuring more than 520 publishing houses from 37 Arab and foreign countries.