KUWAIT CITY, Nov 19: Kuwait’s Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi on Tuesday inaugurated the 48th Kuwait International Book Fair, launched under the patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. The fair, themed “Homeland of the Book… Capital of Culture,” will run until November 29.

The opening ceremony at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre included honoring the featured cultural figure of this year’s edition, Mohammed bin Al-Zubair — retired advisor to the Sultan of Oman for economic planning and founder of the Bait Al Zubair Foundation — in recognition of his distinguished career and contributions to culture and knowledge.

In his remarks, Al-Mutairi said it was an honor to represent His Highness the Prime Minister in opening the event, describing the fair as a deeply rooted cultural symbol that reflects the Kuwaiti people’s longstanding connection to science, learning, and intellectual engagement since the establishment of the modern state.

He said the exhibition, organized by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL), reaffirms Kuwait’s leading cultural role and its commitment to serving as an open platform for dialogue, creativity, and exchange among thinkers, writers, and publishers from across the region and the world. “This event remains a space where the written word flourishes, awareness is renewed, and creativity thrives,” he said.

Al-Mutairi emphasized that culture in Kuwait enjoys the highest patronage from His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah; His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah; and His Highness the Prime Minister, Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. He said their support underscores the essential role of culture and intellectuals in strengthening national values and promoting openness and creativity as foundations for sustainable human development.

The minister welcomed the Sultanate of Oman as the fair’s guest of honor, praising its rich cultural legacy under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. He said Oman’s presence adds valuable intellectual richness and reflects deep fraternal ties and expanding cultural cooperation between the two nations.

Al-Mutairi added that honoring Mohammed bin Al-Zubair is a tribute to a cultural figure whose pioneering initiatives, including the Bait Al Zubair museum, have played a major role in preserving Omani heritage and advancing creativity and documentation efforts. The selection, he said, reflects Kuwait’s pride in Arab personalities who have enriched the cultural landscape and upheld the values of knowledge and beauty.

The minister said the slogan of the 48th edition — “Homeland of the Book… Capital of Culture” — embodies Kuwait’s identity as a center of Arab culture and free thought, celebrating books and affirming that development begins with ideas and a renaissance is built by enlightened minds.

He emphasized that the fair serves as a platform for dialogue, renewal, and engagement between creators and readers, thereby deepening human and intellectual communication. He noted the importance of instilling a love of reading in younger generations and establishing a cultural environment that encourages inquiry, critical thinking, and creativity.

Al-Mutairi stated that NCCAL continues to strengthen the culture of reading, support national creativity, and launch initiatives that expand opportunities for youth in line with digital and cognitive transformation, thereby positioning Kuwait as a vibrant cultural center in the region. He praised the efforts of NCCAL, participating publishers, writers, and creators whose contributions enrich this major cultural event.

Speaking at the opening, Said Al-Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth for Culture in Oman, said his country’s participation as a guest of honor reflects the deep-rooted ties with Kuwait and a shared cultural identity among Gulf Arab states. He noted that Oman’s contribution showcases its cultural, literary, and artistic achievements through events and works displayed throughout the fair.

Al-Busaidi said book fairs raise collective awareness and build cultural bridges across the world, adding that Gulf book fairs play a vital role in strengthening identity and unity through diverse cultural expressions. He expressed gratitude to Kuwait’s government and people for their warm hospitality and enduring friendship.

Representing this year’s honoree, Rashad bin Mohammed Al-Zubair expressed his father’s appreciation for Kuwait, recalling Mohammed bin Al-Zubair’s early ties to the country in the 1950s and his engagement with its cultural environment. He said those years broadened his father’s intellectual horizons and influenced his later work in cultural documentation, resulting in more than twenty publications authored or co-authored.

He added that his early experiences in Kuwait contributed to the founding of Bait Al Zubair, Oman’s first private museum, which was launched in 1998 with the support of the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said as a center for heritage, arts, and historical documentation. He noted that Mohammed bin Al-Zubair’s professional roles — including Minister of Commerce and Industry, and President of Sultan Qaboos University — reinforced his belief in cultural openness and intellectual diversity as pillars of national identity and progress.

On his father’s behalf, Rashad presented the book “Pages That Will Not Fall from Memory: Memoirs of an Omani Student in Kuwait (1954–1961),” documenting the years Kuwait helped shape his early intellectual formation. He said the memoir reflects Kuwait’s pioneering role in fostering Arab thought and opening educational opportunities that influenced generations across the region.

Rashad concluded by expressing his father’s gratitude for being chosen as the exhibition’s cultural figure, affirming that Omani-Kuwaiti relations are grounded in mutual respect and that culture will remain a bridge connecting the two nations.

Following the ceremony, Minister Al-Mutairi, accompanied by guests and organizers, toured the exhibition, which included a showcase of milestones in the fair’s history. The opening event, hosted by Anwar Murad, featured a musical performance led by Maestro Dr. Khaled Nouri, blending sound, poetry, and imagery. Omani novelist Bushra Khalfan and Kuwaiti novelist Saud Al-Sanousi recited literary texts that reflected a shared cultural memory between Kuwait and Oman.

A joint ensemble of Omani and Kuwaiti musicians performed traditional favorites, including “Every Time I Visit My Loved Ones,” “Perhaps God Will Bring Us Together Soon,” “The Mermaid of Description,” and the Gulf anthem “Our Gulf Is One,” ending with a performance symbolizing unity and cultural brotherhood.

A scene from the artistic concert