Omani Pavilion Draws Large Crowds at Moscow International Book Fair

High Turnout at Omani Pavilion on Third Day of Moscow International Book Fair

Moscow: The Omani pavilion at the Moscow International Book Fair continued to attract large numbers of visitors for the third consecutive day, including researchers, students, tourists and members of the Russian public interested in exploring Omani publications and learning about the Sultanate of Oman’s culture, history and identity.

Among the visitors was Dmitry Bodrov, who previously studied Arabic at the Sultan Qaboos Institute for Teaching Arabic to Non-Native Speakers in Manah and visited several regions of Oman.

Bodrov said he has a strong interest in Oman’s history and had acquired Arabic-language books on the Sultanate during his first visit. He added that he headed to the Omani pavilion to explore new publications related to Oman.

The pavilion also received two researchers specialising in Oriental studies at Moscow State University, Nikita Brzekov and Yaroslav Labot. They said they visited the pavilion after learning about Oman’s participation in the exhibition through their university.

The researchers highlighted their particular interest in Oman’s maritime history, its presence in Zanzibar and Africa, and its historical trade relations with Asian countries.

Fatima bint Salman, a Russian national fluent in Arabic and a graduate of the Sultan Qaboos Institute for Teaching Arabic to Non-Native Speakers in Manah, also visited the pavilion.

She expressed her appreciation for Oman’s natural beauty, its people and the sense of security she experienced during her stay. As a student of Middle Eastern politics, she said the pavilion provides a valuable opportunity to obtain Arabic-language books on Oman’s cultural and scientific life, which are not readily available in Russia.

Another visitor, Celia, discovered the pavilion after returning from a family tourist trip to Salalah. She said the visit increased her interest in learning more about Oman, including its history, culture, traditions, cuisine and clothing, particularly women’s clothing, as well as education and women’s lives.

She expressed her intention to visit other Omani cities in the future.

Four Omani Entities Participate

The Omani pavilion comprises sections representing four participating entities: the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, and Sultan Qaboos University.

The Ministry of Information section features publications covering Oman’s history, culture, national identity and civilisational heritage, alongside works on media, literature, thought, history and Oman’s international relations.

Among the featured publications are “Oman Yearbook – Vision and Making the Future” for 2025 in Arabic and English, “The Omani Presence in East Africa,” “Masters of the Seas” by researcher Hamoud bin Hamad Al Ghailani, “Omani-Russian Relations in the 19th Century AD,” based on approximately 2,852 Russian documents, and “Russia and the Middle East: International Relations and Cultural Influences.”

The section also features literary and historical works, including “The Scent of Cloves: Me and the Other in the Memoirs of an Arab Princess,” “The Al Busaid Women and Power in 19th Century Zanzibar,” the three-part “Omani Encyclopedia of Arab Heritage,” “Omani Firsts,” Jokha Alharthi’s novel “Celestial Bodies,” the poetry collection “Omani Love,” and the illustrated book “Oman: Rhymes from the Sky.”

It further presents publications related to Omani journalism and intellectual life, including “Pioneers of Omani Journalism,” “The Supreme Speech – Speeches and Words,” “Nizwa” magazine and the Ministry of Information’s “Ain” digital platform.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth section showcases literary, intellectual and cultural publications reflecting the diversity of Oman’s cultural scene, including works documenting literature, creativity, history and national identity.

Sultan Qaboos University presents publications, academic studies and scientific research produced by Omani researchers, highlighting the Sultanate’s scientific and intellectual activity.

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism section features publications specialising in heritage, history, archaeological sites and cultural heritage, alongside works introducing Oman’s tourism, natural and cultural assets.