Resilience in Culture: İntrotema at the 35th Doha International Book Fair
The 35th Doha International Book Fair reaffirmed a profound truth: even in the most challenging of times, culture remains a powerful sanctuary of resilience. Following a wave of regional cancellations across Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Sharjah, and Erbil due to ongoing geopolitical tensions, the eyes of the global publishing community turned entirely to Doha. Defying widespread expectations of a cancellation, this year’s cultural milestone was executed with exceptional magnificence.
During the event, our team had the distinct honor of meeting with Qatar’s Minister of Culture, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, in our capacity as the General Coordinator of the International İstanbul Arabic Book Fair. The Minister shared insights into his decision to proceed with the fair despite internal pressures, emphasizing that book fairs are vital cultural meeting spaces that no external force should disrupt. Notably, we also spent valuable time with the Turkish Ambassador to Doha, Dr. Mustafa Göksu, who personally visited over ten Turkish publishing stands, demonstrating inspiring support for our national publishing industry.
A significant milestone for İntrotema Literary Agency this year was hosting a dedicated stand for our Turkish Literature in Arabic (TULIA) project. The announcement that the total number of translated works from Turkish to Arabic has surpassed 2,000 titles sparked great admiration among international attendees. Our presence also revealed a surging local demand for Turkish literature; we connected with a professor from Lusail University who noted that nearly 1,000 students are actively learning Turkish across two Qatari universities.
While the fair was a cultural triumph, it also reflected the economic realities of the modern market. Publishers engaged in deep discussions regarding a 30% decline in retail sales compared to recent years, the rising influence of artificial intelligence, and institutional shifts, such as the Ministry of Culture pausing its standard booth acquisitions. Despite these bittersweet market notes, the emergence of brand-new Qatari publishing houses highlighted an ecosystem poised for future expansion.