Doha: Qatar's Dar Al Kutub is participating in the 34th Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) by showcasing an incredible collection of rare manuscripts and books from its heritage library, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore these invaluable cultural treasures. Director General of Qatar's Dar Al Kutub, Ibrahim Al Bouhashem Al Sayed, highlighted to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that Dar Al Kutub is committed to showcasing invaluable literature in this participation, which demonstrates its stature on the Qatari cultural stage.
According to Qatar News Agency, Al Sayed explained that this year, Dar Al Kutub's booth showcases a collection of rare manuscripts and books that have been printed at the expense of Qatar's rulers, beginning with Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani, the fourth ruler of the State of Qatar and the founder of Dar Al Kutub. Having been printed at the nation's expense, these collections form part and parcel of Qatar's cultural memory, with some of them being selected to be showcased in appreciation of their historic and intellectual value, Al Sayed said.
He added that this participation is very essential, since Dar Al Kutub was primarily vested with the responsibility of organizing the fair since its inception in 1972, prior to being placed under the oversight of numerous institutions until reaching the Ministry of Culture. Among the foremost exhibits on display at this booth are a plethora of handwritten copies of the Holy Qur'an, some of which are gilded and date back several centuries, alongside a manuscript of Al Mutanabbi's Diwan from the 7th century AH, as well as other rare books spanning literature, science, and religious thought-bearing witness to the profound richness and historical depth of Qatar's manuscript heritage, highlighted Al Sayed.
He then unveiled the launch of the 'Friends of Dar Al Kutub' membership initiative during the Fair, which is open to both Qatari citizens and residents, and aspires to broaden the scope of public engagement with Dar Al Kutub. Members will be granted access to borrowing services, cultural workshops, and curated events, in addition to privileged access to select rare manuscripts not ordinarily available to the public. They will also receive exclusive invitations to Dar Al Kutub-hosted activities throughout the year, further cementing the institution's enduring role as a beacon of cultural enrichment and community outreach, Al Sayed underlined.
Al Sayed affirmed that membership is not exclusively devoted to borrowing books, but extends far beyond to forge friendships with readers who will be regularly contacted and have the opportunity to engage in activities to contribute their ideas for advancing future initiatives. Inaugurated in March 2025, Dar Al Kutub was one of the prime entities in the Gulf region to enforce the legal deposit system since the early 1980s, under which every individual who publishes a book in the country, whether a Qatari citizen or a resident, is mandated to deposit five copies with Dar Al Kutub, thereby contributing to the preservation of the nation's literary and cultural heritage.
These deposited works are assigned both a local and an international deposit number, ensuring that Qatar's intellectual output is documented and aligned with global bibliographic standards.