Under the patronage and in the presence of President of the Syrian Arab Republic Ahmad al-Sharaa, the exceptional edition of the Damascus International Book Fair was officially inaugurated on Tuesday evening at the Conference Palace in Damascus, amid broad official and cultural participation that included a number of ministers, Arab political and intellectual figures, as well as prominent writers and intellectuals.
In his address at the opening ceremony, President al-Sharaa said that humanity has long strived for truth, knowledge and the secrets of the world, noting that the more knowledge a person acquires, the greater their awareness becomes, and the deeper their need for learning grows. He likened knowledge to an inexhaustible spring that continues to give, yet never fully satisfies the seeker.
The President added that the law of life is founded on both good and evil, and that knowledge empowers both, explaining that those who strive first to attain knowledge gain the upper hand. He stressed that the hallmark of those who pursue good lies in their diligence in seeking knowledge and acting upon it, warning that knowledge without action becomes a burden rather than a virtue.
President al-Sharaa emphasized that ignorant nations are associated with weakness, while knowledgeable nations that act upon what they learn are associated with strength. He noted that God has guided humanity through His Book and urged learning, reflection and contemplation, stressing that justice, truth and the rejection of falsehood require strength, and that strength without knowledge is destructive, just as a sword without wisdom ultimately harms its bearer.
He recalled that Damascus was once a beacon of learning and a destination for seekers of knowledge from across the world, whose influence reached east and west alike, until it was targeted by forces of corruption that sought to erase its identity and extinguish its cultural light.
“Today, Damascus has returned, and we have returned with it,” President al-Sharaa said, affirming the collective responsibility to rebuild its stature, heal its wounds and restore its brilliance, so that Syria may once again stand united, strong and enriched by its people and those who love it.
Concluding his remarks, the President said that the Book Fair represents “a welcome return and a precious new beginning following the liberation of Syria in its entirety,” wishing attendees continued growth in knowledge and learning.
Minister of Culture Mohammad Yassin al-Saleh said that books and knowledge have historically constituted one of the pillars of Syrian identity, noting that Damascus, which gave birth to the first alphabet, is today reclaiming its civilizational presence through culture.
Al-Saleh described the fair as the largest cultural event of its kind in Syria’s history, reflecting the Syrian state’s belief in the role of books in building awareness and cultural freedom, and restoring Damascus’s position as a city of knowledge and learning.
He added that culture loses its true meaning when detached from values, describing the Book Fair as the first cultural culmination following liberation and a message that Syria has returned to its rightful place in the record of human civilization. He stressed that the current challenge lies in restoring the primacy of knowledge and the message of “Read” as the highest gateway to building human potential.
The opening ceremony featured two short films, the first recounting the narrative of the Syrian revolution from its outset through the sacrifices made to achieve victory and liberation, while the second highlighted the Idleb Book Fair held in 2024–2025 as an early cultural indicator of Syria’s full liberation and the return of the Damascus International Book Fair.
The ceremony also included a musical performance, a theatrical scene performed by actress Wafaa Moussalli with a child emphasizing the importance of reading, and visual presentations of leading Syrian literary figures, rendered using artificial intelligence technologies. The event opened with recitations from the Holy Quran.
More than 500 publishing houses from over 35 countries are participating in this edition, presenting tens of thousands of titles in literature, thought, philosophy, science and children’s books.
The fair is accompanied by a rich cultural program featuring hundreds of seminars, lectures, intellectual forums, book signings and specialized workshops, alongside dedicated spaces for children’s activities aimed at fostering a culture of reading among younger generations.
The fair’s slogan draws inspiration from Syria’s deep civilizational heritage, referencing the first alphabet in Ugarit and the oldest discovered library in Ebla, reaffirming Syria’s enduring identity as a land of books and knowledge.
The exhibition is scheduled to open to the public starting tomorrow, with its activities continuing until February 16, daily from 10 am to 9 pm.
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