Doha, February 07 (QNA) - The Arab Book Award has signed a cooperation agreement with the Oman-based Bait Al Zubair Cultural Foundation, as part of joint societal and cultural efforts aimed at strengthening strategic partnerships between leading Arab cultural institutions and supporting innovative shared cultural initiatives.

The agreement was signed by Executive Director of the Arab Book Award, Naji Al Sharif and, Director General of the Omani Bait Al Zubair Foundation, Dr. Mona Habras.

The agreement seeks to enhance cooperation between the two sides in the fields of culture, heritage, and community innovation, and to support cultural initiatives that serve Arab society, encourage knowledge production, and develop joint programs that benefit from the expertise and cultural institutions in both countries.

In a statement issued by the Arab Book Award today, Dr. Al Sharif said that the award is keen to cooperate with various Arab cultural entities and institutions concerned with culture, intellectuals, and thinkers. He noted that the partnership with the prestigious Bait Al Zubair Cultural Foundation represents a concrete step forward in this direction.

He also emphasized the State of Qatar's commitment to supporting Arab culture and those working in the cultural field, noting that the Arab Book Award strives to realize this vision-an objective it shares with its Omani counterpart.

For her part, Dr. Mona Habras affirmed that the Arab Book Award has made significant strides and is advancing strongly, with clear indicators of its growing impact. She expressed her pleasure at signing the agreement, describing it as the beginning of a long-term partnership between the two cultural institutions.

Dr. Habras further revealed that the Bait Al Zubair Foundation will launch the Bait Al Zubair Cultural Award, a move that will enhance opportunities for mutual cooperation and joint initiatives across various cultural fields.

She expressed hope that the agreement would achieve its intended goals and yield tangible results that benefit both parties.

It is worth noting that the Arab Book Award was launched by the State of Qatar in 2023 and focuses on books authored in Arabic. The award honors researchers, publishing houses, and institutions contributing to the Arab book industry.

The Bait Al Zubair Foundation was established in 1998 as a museum housing collections, some of which date back several centuries. In 2005, it evolved into a cultural institution comprising several "houses," dedicated to presenting Oman's cultural and civilizational heritage, providing genuine incubators for cultural activities and young talents, and celebrating pioneering experiences across various cultural fields. (QNA)