Doha, May 19 (QNA) - Winners of the 35th edition of the Doha International Book Fair Awards were honored on Tuesday evening at the fair's main theater, in the presence of a large gathering of cultural and media figures, in a celebration reflecting the award's status as one of the initiatives supporting the publishing industry, literary and cultural creativity, and the promotion of books.

Director of the Libraries Department at the Ministry of Culture and Director of the Doha International Book Fair, Jassim Ahmed Al Buainain, presented the awards to the winning publishers and authors.

Rosa Publishing House won the Excellence Award for Qatari Publisher, while Kuwait's Torous Center for Publishing and Distribution received the Excellence Award for International Publisher.

Dar Al Watad for Books and Publications won the Outstanding Qatari Children's Book Publisher Award, while Al Hudhud Publishing and Distribution of the United Arab Emirates received the Outstanding International Children's Book Publisher Award.

The Abdul Aziz Al Buhashim Al Sayed Library for Heritage Books also won the award for Best Pavilion at the Doha International Book Fair, in recognition of its distinctive visual and heritage-focused presentation that reflected the spirit and cultural identity of the fair.

In the creative writing category, writer Rami Mohammed Al Ta'amneh won for his novel "Birth on the Edge," published by the Arab Foundation for Studies and Publishing in Lebanon. Young Qatari writer Amna Irhama Al Buainain received the Young Qatari Writer Creativity Award for her book "When the Sea Exhales," published by Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press (HBKU Press).

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the ceremony, Jassim Ahmed Al Buainain said the award's second edition witnessed strong competition among publishing houses and participants, noting that the fair allocated seven diverse categories aimed at supporting different sectors of the book and publishing industry.

He said a large number of submissions had been evaluated by judging committees, reflecting growing interest in the award and a strong desire to win it. He added that the level of competition was a positive indicator of the vitality of the publishing and cultural sectors.

Al Buainain said the award aims not only to honor achievement, but also to encourage publishers and writers to produce more valuable works that enrich the Arab library and serve readers. He congratulated the winners and wished success to other participants in future editions, emphasizing the importance of continuing to develop cultural and intellectual content.

The award is being organized for the second consecutive year as part of the Doha International Book Fair's broader efforts to support publishers and creators, encourage cultural and intellectual production, and honor contributions that have enriched the cultural landscape locally, regionally and internationally, whether in general publishing, children's literature, literary creativity or pavilion design.

The recognition ceremony was part of a broader program of cultural and intellectual events accompanying the Doha International Book Fair, which in its 35th edition continues to provide a platform bringing together publishers, writers, intellectuals and the public, in a scene underscoring the enduring relevance of books.

The Doha International Book Fair continues at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center through Saturday evening, with the participation of more than 520 publishing houses representing 37 Arab and foreign countries. (QNA)