The 56th Cairo International Book Fair (23 January-5 February) provided just that opportunity. On its first two days, the fair attracted over 845,971 visitors, reflecting a continued demand for physical books.
This year’s edition also aligned with various initiatives aimed at promoting reading. One notable initiative is the “One Million Books” campaign, launched by the Ministry of Culture alongside the fair. Its goal is to distribute one million books to Egyptians of all ages, covering various topics. Several government ministries are involved, including those of education, youth, and social development. This initiative is supported by key publishing organisations, such as the National Centre for Translation, the General Egyptian Book Organisation, and the Supreme Council of Culture.
In addition to this, the fair introduced “Hall 6,” a new section offering books at discounted prices, aiming to make books more accessible and promote the love of reading, especially among a younger and more diverse audience.
Hall 6, a large tent at this year’s Cairo International Book Fair, offers a unique experience with two types of booksellers. One of the most notable groups are vendors from “Sour El-Azbakiya”, the oldest second-hand book market in the Arab region. This market, named after the wall surrounding Azbakiya Garden in downtown Cairo, dates back to 1907, making it over a century old. The garden itself was established by Khedive Ismail in the 1870s, near the Royal Opera House in Ataba district.
For years, those second-hand and antique book vendors have been a key feature of the book fair. At its former location at the Nasr City fairgrounds, they typically took up a large outdoor space on the outskirts of the main pavilions. Whether visitors were searching for specific academic materials or simply browsing, this open-air section offered a chance to explore countless old books at affordable prices.
However, when the fair moved to the Egypt International Exhibition Centre in New Cairo in 2019, the new layout meant there was no longer an open-air space for Sour El-Azbakiya. As booth rental costs rose, many booksellers from the market withdrew, leaving only a few to participate in recent rounds.
This year, however, the fair introduced the Discounted Books Hall, providing a dedicated, spacious area for second-hand and antique book vendors. This new space offers a relaxed, almost spontaneous browsing experience, capturing the same charming, casual vibe that made Sour El-Azbakiya a beloved part of the book fair for so many years. With more booksellers participating this time, the market has made a strong return to the heart of the fair, offering a richer selection of books than in previous years.
Hall 6, the Discounted Books Hall, brings together, alongside the vendors from Sour El-Azbakiya, a selection of major publishing houses showcasing a curated range of their backlists at affordable prices. These participating publishers also have their own stands in other halls where their books are offered at regular prices. However, the unique concept of Hall 6 — dedicated solely to discounted books for the first time — creates a space entirely focused on offering books at lower prices, making it a special feature of this year’s fair.
One of the key participants in the Discounted Books Hall is the General Organisation for Cultural Palaces (GOCP) which is offering an exciting selection at this year’s fair. They have a book bundle featuring 25 titles for just LE 100, with many other books priced at a maximum of LE 25. Some editions are available for as little as LE 1 or LE 3. The GOCP has been a champion of affordable books since its founding in the 1950s, with a mission to promote culture across Egypt. Their extensive collection caters to a wide variety of readers, consistently offering lower prices than private-sector publishers.
Originally founded in the 1940s as the “Popular University” and later renamed the Mass Culture Authority in the 1960s, the GOCP became the General Organisation for Cultural Palaces in 1989. They run cultural centres across Egypt and are known for offering large discounts on their publications, particularly during the Cairo International Book Fair. This event is a key opportunity for reviving sales of older editions covering a diverse range of subjects.
In addition to its discounted offerings in Hall 6, the GOCP has a separate booth featuring its latest publications, alongside older works at slightly higher prices. However, these remain much more affordable compared to private publishers. One of their standout releases at this year’s fair is a special collection of 10 books by the late Egyptian writer Abbas Mahmoud Al-Aqqad, which is being showcased as part of the Icons of Thought series.
The Discounted Books Hall also includes several private publishing houses, among them Ibdaa for Translation, Publishing, and Distribution, an Egyptian publishing house founded in 2013. Eid Ibrahim Abdullah, the founder of Ibdaa, says their primary focus is on young readers aged seven and up, offering a diverse selection of literature, novels, intellectual books, and translations. Ibdaa’s pricing strategy is built on a simple but impactful principle: “How can a young reader afford to buy a book with their own pocket money?” This approach allows Ibdaa to offer affordable books suited to its target audience.
Eid highlights that a significant portion of Egypt’s readers are young people, which is reflected in their pricing model. Books at Ibdaa range from LE 20 to LE 300, and Eid points out that the most active book buyers in Egypt are teenagers 13-25 years old, along with homemakers.
Ibdaa follows a balanced pricing approach: books for younger readers are sold at cost price to ensure affordability, while books for the older audience are priced to generate a reasonable profit margin. This strategy not only helps Ibdaa maintain a loyal base of younger readers but also facilitates broader sales across different age groups.
Alongside its presence in the Discounted Books Hall, Ibdaa also has a separate stand in another hall, showcasing its latest releases. In the Discounted Books Hall, however, the publisher offers a carefully curated selection of books starting at LE 20, making reading more accessible to a younger audience.
Next to the Discounted Books Hall is another, large tent housing the Discounted Foreign Books section, which this year features a groundbreaking exhibition by the Malaysian book distributor Big Bad Wolf. Founded in 2009, over the years, the company has become the world’s largest platform for discounted book sales, hosting global book fairs in various countries.
At the Cairo International Book Fair, Big Bad Wolf’s expansive pavilion displays thousands of English-language books, including a significant collection of children’s and young adult titles from leading international publishers, with discounts of up to 75 percent. Following successful fairs worldwide, the Malaysian company has now entered the Middle Eastern market through a partnership with the Sharjah Book Authority, its regional representative.
Fadhel Hussein Ahmed, the General Manager of Big Bad Wolf’s pavilion, views Egypt as a crucial market for their global expansion: “Egypt will be our gateway to the region. The excitement for books here is undeniable, as reflected by the massive turnout at the Cairo International Book Fair.” He also highlighted that this participation is just the beginning, with plans to bring thousands of titles, especially for children and young readers, to future exhibitions in Egypt.
The company plans to expand its book fairs to other Egyptian governorates, from Cairo to Aswan, making English-language books available at affordable prices to more readers. Ahmed stated, “Our initiative targets individual readers as well as retailers, public libraries and bookstores. By promoting competitive pricing for foreign books, we aim to enhance accessibility and affordability.”
Ahmed Saqr, the Marketing Manager for Big Bad Wolf Egypt, expressed confidence that such initiatives would have a lasting impact on children and young readers. Despite the growing popularity of digital books and audiobooks, Saqr believes printed books are still highly relevant: “Instead of pushing young readers away from print, digital and audio formats have actually sparked more interest in physical books. Many young people who weren’t naturally inclined to read are now drawn to printed editions because digital media has piqued their curiosity.”
Saqr also stressed the importance of presentation and accessibility in attracting young readers. He believes initiatives like Big Bad Wolf’s book fairs help bridge the gap between digital media and traditional reading habits.
Beyond the discounted book sections, other exhibition halls at the Cairo International Book Fair are home to various initiatives by publishing houses aimed at reconnecting with readers and reigniting the joy of reading by offering books at affordable prices.
A key contributor in this area is the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and affiliated institutions, which have culture promotion as one of their core missions. Among those, the Egyptian General Book Organisation plays a vital role. Founded in 1961, the organisation is responsible for organising the Cairo International Book Fair and has evolved over the years while staying true to its original purpose: to serve as a governmental cultural body focused on authorship, translation, and publishing. The organisation operates numerous book-selling outlets across Egypt, offering thousands of titles in various fields of science, culture, literature and history, with an emphasis on providing books at competitive prices to serve its educational role. This year, the organisation is offering discounts of up to 30 percent, with highly sought-after titles like Al-Mukhtar min Bada’i’ al-Zuhur fi Waqa’i’ al-Duhur by the Egyptian historian Muhammad Ibn Iyas, the Description of Egypt encyclopedia, and Al-Aghani by Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani.
Another key player is the National Centre for Translation, also under the Ministry of Culture, which is offering discounts of up to 50 percent for university students and members of professional and artistic syndicates. Established in 2006, the centre works to translate important titles into Arabic from various languages and fields. It also provides discounts on its books throughout the year, sold through multiple outlets across the country.
National press institutions, such as Dar al-Ma’arif, are also significant contributors to the book fair. Rizk Abdel-Sami, Chairman of Dar al-Ma’arif and the National Distribution Company, noted that this year marks a significant shift for the publisher. “We are entering the exhibition with 120 new titles, which is a first in a long time. We are also reprinting many works and introducing new series,” he said. Dar al-Ma’arif has introduced new series for young readers like Rawa’i’ Iqra’ and Iqra’ Al-Ilmi, the latter featuring scientific content.
Abdel-Sami further emphasised the organisation’s commitment to affordability: “Our pricing policy does not target profit, which allows us to offer books at highly competitive, unmatched prices.” Dar al-Ma’arif also offers many older books at their original prices, rather than raising them to current market rates. In addition, the publisher has been successful in attracting families and children by offering book bundles at very low prices, a strategy that has proven popular.
Private publishing houses like Battana Publishing and Distribution are also finding innovative ways to offer affordable books and strengthen their connection with readers. Aatif Obaid, Chairman of Battana, explains that the company adopts a non-traditional pricing model focused on accessibility rather than high profits. “At Battana, we don’t follow traditional pricing methods because we don’t aim to achieve high profits,” he says. “The profit margin added to the price of our books is not large, and we sell older editions at their original prices, not the current prices, making them more affordable. We even offer discounts on them.”
To further engage readers, Battana has introduced a point system: for every book purchased, buyers earn 100 points, and when they accumulate 2000 points, they can begin to receive free books. This initiative adds an extra incentive for readers to return and engage with the publisher’s offerings. In addition, as both a publishing and distribution company, Battana reduces external distributor costs, redirecting the money saved to offer even greater discounts.
Battana has introduced a series of historical books designed for general readers rather than specialists. These books present complex information in a simplified manner and are sold at reduced prices, broadening their appeal.
Obaid emphasizes that, despite the rise of digital media, physical books have maintained their relevance. “The printed book has stood the test of time and has proven its worth in transmitting knowledge over thousands of years. While other media are certainly respected and must be taken into consideration, no medium has yet surpassed the physical book, which continues to have substantial presence.”
Arabic publishing houses are also adapting to the challenges posed by high book costs, which can create a barrier between them and their readers. One notable example is Dar al-Adab, a Lebanese publishing house that has partnered with several Egyptian publishers and distributors to overcome these challenges. Rana Idris, the Director of Dar al-Adab, explains that the Lebanese house collaborates with well-known Egyptian publishers like Dar al-Tanmiya and Diwan to print produce Egyptian editions of its publications. This partnership significantly reduces costs and, in turn, lowers the price for local readers.
“Over the past seven years, we have published Egyptian editions of more than 12 novels alongside the Lebanese editions, in collaboration with Tanmiya. The price difference between the Egyptian and Lebanese editions is approximately 40-50 percent lower for the Egyptian editions,” says Idris. Popular titles like the translation of The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak and Orientalism by Edward Said have also been released as Egyptian editions, in collaboration with Diwan bookstore, due to high demand.
While digital platforms have taken a considerable share of the market, particularly due to their affordability with subscription models offering unlimited access to books, Idris remains optimistic about the resurgence of the physical book. “With a small subscription, you can read an unlimited number of books,” she acknowledges. However, she points out that physical books are experiencing a revival, particularly in Western countries. “In many countries around the world, there has been a resurgence of physical books. Amazon itself has returned to selling physical books,” she notes, highlighting that, even after a brief disruption, the sale of physical books continues to thrive, showing that they are far from disappearing.
The Cairo International Book Fair has also become a vital platform for public libraries to engage with the public and promote reading, particularly among younger generations. One notable example is the Library of Egypt, which has become a key player in expanding access to books. Established in the mid-1990s in a building in Dokky, the library has grown into one of the largest public library networks in Egypt, with 30 branches across the country. This year marks its 30th anniversary, a milestone that has spurred the library to enhance its outreach.
A recent initiative by the Library of Egypt, which is affiliated with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, is its series of mobile libraries. These libraries travel across various regions in Cairo and beyond, providing access to books in areas where there might not be a nearby library branch. Amr Abu Bakr, Director of Marketing and External Services at the library, explains that the idea behind those mobile libraries emerged in 2020, when the library recognised the need to extend its services beyond its physical locations. The project, called “In Service”, offers library services at six key sites: clubs, youth centres, residential neighbourhoods, compounds, educational locations, and community centers.
These mobile libraries follow a fixed schedule, allowing visitors, especially young people, to explore the library’s collection and take advantage of membership subscriptions. Borrowers can check out up to five books, with a flexible return system that allows them to return the books either at the next mobile library stop or at any of the library’s branches. Since last year, the library has brought this service to the book fair, seeing it as an excellent opportunity to connect with the public, particularly younger audiences, and promote the joy of reading.
“At the fair, we aim to meet our audience face-to-face and encourage young people to embrace reading. We offer an affordable membership system for all ages, including family subscriptions, and ensure that the collection is constantly updated to cater to a wide range of interests,” Amr says. The mobile libraries are especially appealing because they bring along a variety of activities for children, further fostering an environment of learning and engagement. Currently, the Library of Egypt operates 19 mobile libraries, with plans to expand to 30, in addition to the 30 branches across the country. This initiative highlights the library’s commitment to making books accessible to a wider audience and instilling the habit of reading in future generations.
By continuing to make books accessible, both financially and culturally, the 56th Cairo International Book Fair proves that print media can coexist and thrive alongside digital platforms, ensuring that the joy of reading remains a lasting part of Egyptian life for years to come.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 6 February, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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