The Riyadh International Book Fair 2024 featured the return of the "Riyadh Reads French" initiative, which was introduced the previous year and gathered numerous French publishers specializing in various fields.
The initiative garnered significant attention and attracted a large number of visitors to the fair.
The French Embassy’s communication officer in Saudi Arabia, Alsaeed Ezz, elaborated that this year's edition aimed to enhance the experience and expand activities, with a particular focus on children. The initiative included over 25,000 books in its pavilions, with 118 French publishing houses participating. Additionally, the Alliance Francaise in Riyadh offered free French language courses to fair visitors, aiming to bring the French language and culture closer to Saudis and all fair attendees.
Ezz highlighted that the Alliance Francaise had dedicated a fully integrated section for children to cater to their needs and knowledge aspirations, with specialized supervisors offering activities such as drawing, reading, and expression to familiarize the younger generation with the French culture.
The initiative also involved Campus France, a national office facilitating registration procedures for studying in French universities and educational institutions. Campus France collaborated with relevant Saudi authorities to introduce available scholarship programs for studying in both English and French, as well as the requirements for obtaining bachelor's and master's degrees and conducting research in various fields.
This year's Riyadh International Book Fair saw a participation from over 2,000 publishing houses and agencies from the Kingdom, the region, and around the world, occupying 800 pavilions representing over 30 countries.
