By Sidi Mohamed

DOHA: Novels and Islamic and children’s books are the most in demand at the 26th Doha International Book Fair say exhibitors.

A total of 427 publishing houses from 26 countries are participating in the 10-day exhibition which opened on Wednesday at Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC).

Fadi one of the exhibitors said many people who visit his stall look for children’s books in addition to Islamic and history books.

“What I noticed is that people like novels more than others books which unfortunately I don’t have” he said adding more visitors came during the weekend mostly women.

Hassan from Al Amal House expressed similar views and said Islamic and children’s books are in high demand.

“We are expecting more visitors especially in the mornings. I see more and more families come to buy more books and this is a good thing” he said.

Many exhibitors are Arabic publishers although there are many selling foreign titles.

Of the 427 entities 393 are Arabic and 34 foreign publishing houses.

The stall of the American embassy is one of the few selling English books.

Praveen Menon Director Information Resource Centre at the embassy said several types of test preparation books and novels by American authors are among the books available in the stall.

He said the most expensive books they sell are priced up to QR100 “but we also give some free books to children for reading.

“The weekend has witnessed a rush of visitors and school teams come in the mornings and other visitors in the evenings” said Menon.

Shampjid from India said there are only two stalls from India at the fair.

He said last year was better because not many customers come this year as car parking is far away and visitors have to walk the long distance to reach the exhibition area.

“Various nationalities especially Indians are visiting the fair.

“We sell only English books and fast-selling books are novels and books for teenagers” he said adding books are sold at affordable prices “but people also ask for discount so we give 10 to 15 percent discount” Shampjid added.

While most books are priced at QR100 they also have a collection of 50 books priced at QR950.

“Children’s books have seen more sales which we expect to rise today because it is school day” he said.

Other stalls are also giving discounts to attract more buyers and sell books fast.

Mohamed from the UK stall said they are offering discounts up to 50 percent.

The most expensive book sold in the stall Office Interiors for example is priced at QR450 but after discount it is QR225.

Not only books but also other items are available at the fair.

An exhibitor at Atlas Al Sharq which specialises in electronics items said watches that give prayer timings are in high demand in addition to dictionaries.

The watches are priced at around QR1350 while dictionaries are sold for QR1500.

Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) is also taking part in the fair Qatar News Agency reports.

In a statement Abdallah Ali Al Mahmoud Head Public Relations and Media Unit NHRC said the committee takes part in activities of the fair every year and distributes brochures on human rights culture that suit all age groups in addition to copies of agreements ratified by Qatar and annual reports prepared by the committee on human rights areas in the state.

He said the committee’s experts and legal researchers answer questions of visitors provide them with legal advice and introduce them with its objectives legal nature activities and legislative developments concerning human rights.

The Peninsula