On the last day of the jubilee round of Cairo International Book Fair, Sheikh Sultan III, the ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah, the UAE visited the fair, checking his country’s publication sections among many others, according to state-run newspaper, Al-Ahram.
Minister of culture Inas Abdel Dayem, and Haitham Al-Hajj, the head of General Egyptian Book Organisation, accompanied Sheikh Sultan III during his visit, along with the UAE ambassador in Egypt Jumaa Mubarak Al-Junaibi.
Throughout his visit, Sheikh Sultan III roamed several publication sections, including the ministries of defence, interior, and culture production divisions. Sultan expressed his delight with having a book fair that “presents a civilised image which suits Egypt.”
Al-Hajj said that this visit indicates the huge success the fair has achieved in its first round at the new location in the Egypt International Exhibition Centre, stating that it is the first time in many years for any of the rulers to visit the fair.
According to AL-Hajj, Sheikh Sultan III praised the new location of the book fair, explaining that chaotic book vendors dominated the book fair scene in its previous rounds.
During the course of the visit, Sheikh Sultan III said that he is a passionate about books and reading, adding that he has one of the original versions of the rare book, Wasf Masr, (Description de l’Égypte) which was written by a French mission on one of their visits to Egypt.
The 50th Cairo International Book Fair witnessed over 2.5 million visitors since it started on Jan 23 until 4 February.
