Qatar draws strong visitor interest in New Delhi World Book Fair

Among the international participants, the Qatar pavilion has emerged as a major attraction, witnessing consistently high footfall throughout the event. Visitors have shown keen interest in Qatar’s rich cultural heritage, contemporary literary offerings and its expanding engagement with global audiences. The strong response reflects a growing curiosity among Indian readers about Qatar’s intellectual traditions and modern cultural narratives.

Yuvraj Malik, director, National Book Trust (NBT), India, said, "The participation of Qatar in the New Delhi World Book Fair as a country is a very historic moment, and the beautiful pavilion put up by Qatar on the premises has brought a new dimension to the literary world. With people-to-people contact, the exchange of books, discussions, and various cultural dimensions being displayed in a very immaculate manner, the pavilion showcases Qatari architecture, cuisine, and crafts. Most importantly, the integration of conventional elements with modern technology like AI is a major attraction. Other countries, especially France, Russia, Japan, and Spain, are also a striking feature, generating great imagination in people’s minds about books and literature.”

Jassim Ahmed Al Buainain, director of the library department at the Ministry of Culture, Qatar, said the pavilion presents a comprehensive glimpse of Qatar’s cultural landscape. He noted that the Ministry has showcased a wide range of literary and cultural publications highlighting both Qatar’s intellectual heritage and contemporary thought. 

To engage Indian audiences more meaningfully, several prominent Qatari works have been translated into Indian languages. The initiative, he said, aims to familiarise Indian readers with Qatar’s cultural production while strengthening cross-cultural communication between the two nations.

The Qatar pavilion features books on literature, history, culture and contemporary issues, along with activities designed to promote dialogue and cultural exchange. Organisers said the strong visitor interest has contributed to deepening people-to-people ties and giving fresh momentum to India–Qatar cultural relations.

The fair’s global character has been further underscored by Spain’s participation as the Focus Country and Qatar’s role as the Guest of Honour this year. These designations reflect the New Delhi World Book Fair’s rising prominence on the international literary calendar and highlight India’s expanding cultural outreach.

Observers noted that the event showcases India’s growing soft power, with books, languages and ideas emerging as effective instruments of cultural diplomacy. By encouraging translation initiatives, collaboration and long-term partnerships, the fair demonstrates how open and creative exchanges of ideas can strengthen global dialogue and reinforce India’s position as a key hub in the international knowledge and publishing ecosystem.