A special Ramadan Book Fair will open 10pm Thursday, 26 July, the Minister of State for Antiquities Mohammed Ibrahim and head of the General Egyptian Book Organisation (GEBO) Ahmed Megahed announced at a press conference, Tuesday. Running for a second year following significant turnout in 2011, the fair will stretch over 3000 square metres on Faisal Street in the Giza district of Cairo.

Egypt's major media institutions and 130 publishers hailing from Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are participating in the literary event which will finish on 11 August.

GEBO assured attendees of the press conference that the Syrian publishers participating in the fair are independent and not officially representing Syria.

The Egyptian Publishers Association (EPA) is currently boycotting the Syrian state publishing union which supports President Bashar Al-Assad's regime, in protest of the continued massacres conducted by the Al-Assad's security forces in the war-torn country. This comes after the EPA refused to attend the Damascus International Book Fair, for similar reasons, back in May.

Entrance to the Giza-based book event is free. It will run in the morning between 10am and 4pm before reopening after Iftar from 8pm until 1am. State-owned publishing houses are promising up to 50 per cent discounts on their books. Parking will also be available.