Muscat: The 29th edition of the Muscat International Book Fair continues to attract large crowds, with participation from Qatar's Ministry of Culture alongside publishing houses from the Gulf region and around the world. The event saw a significant public turnout on Tuesday, with visitors eager to explore the latest literary and cultural releases and attend a wide array of cultural activities. According to Qatar News Agency, Noura Khalifa Al Mannai, Supervisor of the Ministry of Culture's pavilion at the fair, stated that Qatar's participation aims to build new connections with professionals in the fields of culture and publishing and to promote the Ministry's digital library. She highlighted that the Qatari pavilion showcases a diverse collection of the Ministry's latest publications across various disciplines, including novels, law, social and human sciences, as well as notable children's and young adult books, in addition to works from other Qatari publishing houses. This year's edition features 674 pub lishing houses from 35 countries, presenting more than 680,000 titles in multiple languages. As part of an annual tradition, a different Omani governorate is selected as the fair's "Guest of Honor." This year, it is the North Al Sharqiyah Governorate, which is being highlighted for its cultural identity, heritage, and notable figures. The fair also hosts a wide range of events, including academic initiatives, theatrical performances, cultural workshops, children's programs, art showcases, and competitions in storytelling, poetry, and creative writing. The Muscat International Book Fair will run until May 3, with participation from publishers, distributors, and authors from around the world.