Saudi Arabia and Syria: Cultural cooperation, and the Kingdom is the guest of honor at the 2026 Book Fair

In a move reflecting the growing fraternal relations and renewed warmth in joint Arab action, His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Culture, met today in the Syrian capital, Damascus, with his counterpart, the Minister of Culture of the Syrian Arab Republic, Mr. Muhammad Yassin Saleh. This meeting comes within the framework of His Highness's official visit to strengthen cultural cooperation between the two brotherly countries.

The Kingdom is the guest of honor at the Damascus International Book Fair 2026

The meeting included discussions on the selection of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the guest of honor at the 2026 Damascus International Book Fair. His Highness the Minister of Culture congratulated his Syrian counterpart on this important cultural occasion, expressing his wishes for continued progress and prosperity for the Syrian government and people. This selection is a clear indication of the Kingdom's distinguished cultural standing regionally and its leading role in supporting literary and intellectual movements in the Arab world.

Historical context: The return of relations and the activation of cultural diplomacy

This cultural movement comes as the culmination of a recent political and diplomatic process in the region, marked by the resumption of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Syrian Arab Republic, and Syria's return to its seat in the League of Arab States. Culture plays a pivotal role as a soft power in strengthening these restored relations, as cultural bridges are among the strongest bonds that unite peoples, especially given the deep historical, linguistic, and civilizational commonalities between the Saudi and Syrian peoples.

The importance of cooperation and unifying cultural positions

During the talks, both sides emphasized the depth of their historical relations and discussed ways to unify their positions in international cultural organizations to serve the interests of both countries. These steps are of strategic importance within the framework of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which places great emphasis on culture as a way of life, an economic driver, and a bridge for cultural exchange. This cooperation is expected to yield the following results:

• Exchange of experiences in the fields of heritage, antiquities and arts.
• Enhancing joint participation in Arab and international cultural forums.
• Facilitating the movement of intellectuals, writers, and content creators between the two countries.

High-level Saudi delegation

The high-level representation in the Saudi delegation reflected the importance of this visit. The Saudi side included His Excellency Mohammed bin Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri, Advisor at the Royal Court; His Excellency Hamed bin Mohammed Fayez, Deputy Minister of Culture; and His Excellency Rakan bin Ibrahim Al-Tuwaiq, Assistant Minister of Culture. The delegation also included His Excellency Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al-Muhaisin, Advisor at the Royal Court, and His Excellency Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muammar, General Supervisor of the King Abdulaziz Public Library, underscoring the comprehensive nature of the Saudi vision for cultural cooperation with their brothers in Syria.