There were a large number of visitors at the Cairo International Book Fair on Friday, ahead of the event’s closing on 4 February. The book fair was opened by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on 22 January.

The event features hundreds of events dedicated to culture, arts and children, as well as workshops on writing, theatre and fine art. There are 808 pavilions at the fair, and 900 Egyptian and foreign publishing houses represented.

This year’s event honours Egyptian scholar and geographer Gamal Hamdan.

This event is being held for the second time at the International Exhibition Center in New Cairo, having moved last year from its long-time venue at the Cairo International Fairgrounds in the northeastern district of Nasr City.

The book fair, which began in 1969, is the longest-running such book fair in the Arab world.