The Cairo International Book Fair will be extended for four more days to close on Saturday, 9 February instead of its original date, Tuesday, 5 February, announces the fair organisers, the General Egyptian Book Organisation (GEBO).

Ahmed Megahed, head of the GEBO, along with the Egyptian Publishers Association, believe it will give publishers a chance to enhance their sales during these four extra days.

The fair was overshadowed by a surge of violence and turmoil that struck Egypt a few days after the fair’s opening, which dramatically reduced its visitors.

Egyptian publishers welcomed the decisions, but Arab-wide publishers are likely to leave the fair before the new closure date, due to shipment dates and their previous commitment to Morocco’s book fair, which opens in February.