When the Cairo Book Fair first opened in Al Gezira grounds in 1969, no one would have imagined that it would continue all those years. As a young university student, reading was my only joy. I remember visiting the Fair everyday and meeting leading cultural figures, including Tawfik al Hakim, Salah Taher, Youssef al Sebaie, and Youssef Idris. I still remember approaching the late Dr. Mustafa Mahmoud as he was browsing book titles and asking for his advice about the books I should read. He looked at me gently and asked me what I study. When he knew I studied history, he advised me to read in the fields of philosophy, sociology and economics which, according to him, are indispensable to all students of history.

Even though life has changed and books are no longer the only source of knowledge, nor is the Cairo Book Fair the only book fair in the region, the Fair has flourished year after year, not only through the huge book collections from around the world, but also through the rich program of cultural and social events and seminars. .

One cannot say that we have offered all there is to offer during this round, but we have tried to make it a special and enjoyable event.

Finally, I would like to thank the spirits of all those who had run the Cairo Book Fair over the past four decades , including Soheir al Kalamawy, El Sheneity, Salah Abdel Sabour, Ezz el Din Ismail, Samir Sarhan, Nasser al Ansary, and many others who have left their mark on our cultural life.