The 56th Cairo International Book Fair was officially opened by Dr. Ahmed Fouad Henna, Minister of Culture, and Dr. Ahmed Bahey El-Din, President of the General Egyptian Book Organization.
The Sultanate of Oman has been chosen as the guest of honor for this year’s edition, and the esteemed scholar Dr. Ahmed Mostagir has been selected as the ‘Personality of the Fair’ by the fair’s advisory committee.
The fair is currently taking place at the Egypt International Exhibition Center, located in New Cairo. It will be open to the public daily from 10 am to 8 pm, with extended hours until 9 pm on Thursdays and Fridays.
Highlights of the first day’s cultural events:
Main Hall:
- 1:30 PM: Panel discussion titled “Stay Connected,” featuring Dr. Asmaa Abdel Aziz, Dr. Hassan Al-Sharif (Saudi Arabia), and Dr. Nevin Makram. Moderated by journalist Hala Hamlawi.
- 3:30 PM: Panel discussion titled “How Did Ahmed Mostahir Shape?” featuring Dr. Ahmed Ragab Mohamed, Dr. Ayman Yahya Amin, and Dr. Saad Nasr. Moderated by journalist Marwa Marsi.
- 5:30 PM: A meeting with Dr. Osama Al-Azhari, Minister of Awqaf.
- 7:30 PM: Panel discussion on “Regional Conflict Zones and Threats to Egyptian National Security,” featuring Major General Dr. Ayman Abdel Mohsen, Ambassador Hazem Khairat, Representative Tarek El-Kholy, and Major General Wael Rabie.
International Hall:
- 1:30 PM: Panel discussion on “African Literature” featuring Madohona Arouna (Togo), Abra Christiane (Togo), and Ndiogou Samb (Senegal). Moderated by journalist Mona El-Daly.
- 3:30 PM: Panel discussion titled “A Historical Overview of the Relationship between the Libyan and Egyptian Judiciary,” featuring Counselor جمعه أبوزيد, Counselor سري محمود صيام, Counselor مبروك الفاخري, and Counselor محمد عزت السيد.
- 5:00 PM: Panel discussion on “Modern Omani-Egyptian Relations: Foundations and Positions,” featuring Dr. Abdel Moneim Al-Husni, Dr. Ali El-Din Helal, Dr. Ali Al-Eisani, and Dr. Mohamed Saber Arab. Moderated by Assim Al-Shidi.
- 7:30 PM: Panel discussion on “The History of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs” featuring Ambassador Ahmed Farid and Ambassador Nagi Ghabbash. Moderated by journalist Leila Omar.
Cultural Salon:
- 1:30 PM: Panel discussion titled “Professor Hussein Nasr: A Centennial Celebration” featuring Dr. Ayman Fouad Sayed, Dr. Tagreed Hassan, Dr. Hossam Abdel-Zaher, and Dr. Yasser Hussein Nasr. Moderated by journalist Heba Hamza.
- 3:30 PM: Panel discussion on “Champollion: Deciphering Ancient Egyptian Language” featuring Dr. Ahmed Mansour, Dr. Alaa Al-Ageizi, Dr. Fathi Saleh, and Dr. Mamdouh El-Damaطي. Moderated by journalist Hoda Abdel Aziz.
- 5:30 PM: Panel discussion on “Our Culture in Iraq and Morocco” featuring Dr. Ahmed Al-Zafiry (Iraq), Dr. Saeed Kubrit (Morocco), Dr. Mubarak Al-Serifi (Morocco), and Dr. Moj Yusuf (Iraq). Moderated by journalist Mayada.
- 7:30 PM: Panel discussion on “The Hotspots of Regional Conflict and Threats to Egyptian National Security” featuring Major General Dr. Ayman Abdel Mohsen, Ambassador Hazem Khairat, Representative Tarek El-Kholy, and Major General Wael Rabie.
Creativity and Thought:
- 1:30 PM: Discussion of the book “Screenplay: A Guide to Professional Drama” by Mohamed Rafi’e, with Dr. Asmaa Yahya Al-Taher Abdullah, director Magdy Ahmed Ali, and moderated by Iman Al-Shami.
- 3:00 PM: Discussion of the book “The Legend Speaks – An Autobiography” by Samiha Ayub, with Ayman Al-Hakim and Alaa Mahmoud Marsi. Moderated by Mohamed Abdel Khaleq.
- 4:30 PM: Discussion of the book “The Fourth Arab-Israeli Round 1973 – Monitoring and Study” by Major General Mahmoud Mohamed Talha, with Major General Ali Al-Beblawi and Major General Mohamed Helal.
- 6:00 PM: Discussion of “The Sorrows of a Bean Seller” by Abdo Mobasher, moderated by Abdel Nasser Al-Atifi, with Rania Rafie and Mohamed Amin Al-Masry.
- 7:30 PM: Discussion of “The Curse of the Foreigner” by Wael Al-Samri, with Dr. Samir Mandi and Mustafa Obeid. Moderated by journalist Soheir Ghoda.
Institutions Hall:
- 1:30 PM: Panel discussion titled “Women’s Rights Between Islamic Law and Positive Law” featuring Dr. Abdel Hai Aziz, Counselor Adly Hussein, Dr. Suzanne El-Kaliny, Dr. Mona El-Hadidi, and Dr. Nourhan El-Sheikh. Moderated by Ayman Adly (Islamic Universities Association).
- 1:30 PM: Panel discussion on “The Centennial of Al-Musawwar Magazine” featuring Helmi El-Nemnem, Abdel Latif Hamid, Omar Sami Ghaly Mohamed, and Youssef Al-Qaid. Moderated by Ashraf Al-Talabani (Dar Al-Hilal).
- 4:00 PM: Panel discussion on “Current Climate Change: Causes, Impacts, Confrontation, and Adaptation” featuring Dr. Abdel Razak El-Komy, Dr. Abdel Messiah Samaan, Dr. Attiya Al-Tanttawi, Dr. Shaker Abu Al-Maaty, and Dr. Firoz Mahmoud. Moderated by Dr. Fathi Abu Radi (Supreme Council for Culture).
- 6:30 PM: Roundtable discussion titled “The Relationship Between Fine Arts and Society” featuring art critic Mohamed Kamal and art critic Heba El-Hawary.
Exhibition Hall:
- 12:00 PM: Panel discussion on “Greek Literature and its Translation into Arabic” featuring Dr. Nikos Bakonakis and Dr. Mohamed Abdel Aziz, with a presentation of Greek poetry for 2024 by poet Stavros Zafeiriou.
- 3:30 PM: Panel discussion on the book “Education and Teaching in Ancient Egypt” by Dr. Abdel Aziz Saleh, discussed by Dr. Hussein Rabie. Moderated by Mahmoud Anwar (Cultural Heritage).
- 5:30 PM: Panel discussion on the book “A Treatise on Writing and Inks” discussed by Dr. Ahmed Juma, Dr. Hassan Obeid, and Dr. Yahya Zakaria. Moderated by Salwa Bakr.
- 7:30 PM: Discussion of the poetry collection “What Else Do Romantics Do?” by Ibrahim Bajalati, discussed by Dr. Mohamed Badawi.
Poetry Hall:
- 3:30 PM: An evening organized by the Union of Egyptian Writers, featuring: Abu Zaid Bayoumi, Jamal Haraji, Dina Lotfi, Sayeda Farouk, Tarek Abdel Fattah, Fathi Al-Somaei, Mohamed El-Kholy, Mohamed El-Dash, Mohamed El-Sayed, Nour Soliman, and Hala Asfour. Moderated by Jabir Bassiouni.
- 5:30 PM: A meeting with Ahmed Abdel-Muttalib Hegazi, in conversation with Samh Mahjub.
- 7:30 PM: An evening featuring: Ahmed Suwailem, Amal Jamal, Auras Al-Eryani (Yemen), Bahiya Talab Abdel Karim Kassed (Iraq), England, Abdo El-Masry, Ali Ata Mubarak Al-Serifi (Morocco, America), Masoud Shoman, Hisham Mahmoud, and Nabila Bellar (Uruguay). Moderated by Hossam Gaial.
