Ahwal Al-Ma'rifa – Special

Even the most optimistic observers of the Saudi cultural scene did not expect cultural events held in cafés and independent cultural centers to succeed. Traditional, conventional cultural practices had long been accustomed to events organized by official cultural institutions, particularly literary clubs, cultural and arts associations, and major libraries across the Kingdom. These institutions provide cultural awareness and cultural activities with a degree of credibility, as well as literary, creative, artistic, and methodological documentation. Moreover, the prestige of a cultural venue creates a form of motivation for serious and distinguished cultural discourse.

However, the experience of cultural cafés held across the Kingdom on a wide scale under the name “Literary Partner” has demonstrated a remarkable and effective presence in the Saudi cultural scene, particularly with the new generations embracing café culture and transforming it into literary and cultural dialogues and discussions. These gatherings have addressed poetry collections, short stories, novels, and cultural and intellectual issues that lie at the heart of Saudi creativity.

From this perspective, yesterday’s event, the closing ceremony of the fifth edition of the “Literary Partner” initiative, organized by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission on July 24, 2026, at the King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh, revealed remarkable statistics. The ceremony was attended by the Commission’s CEO, Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, and the CEO of the Quality of Life Program Center, Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Bakr, alongside a distinguished group of writers, intellectuals, initiative partners, and representatives of cultural and media organizations.

Dr. Abdul Latif Al-Wasil explained that the initiative has become a pioneering national model for cultural partnership between the private and nonprofit sectors. It has contributed to expanding community participation and strengthening the presence of literature across various regions of the Kingdom, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and reflecting the position of culture as one of the drivers of development and quality of life.

He revealed that the fifth edition achieved significant results, with 220 Literary Partners in 57 cities, who organized 11,677 cultural and literary initiatives, involving 9,240 speakers. The proportion of new speakers rose to 68% during the 2025–2026 cultural year compared with previous editions, while the number of beneficiaries exceeded one million, demonstrating the expanding impact of the initiative and its consolidation as a national platform that embraces creativity and supports literary activity throughout the Kingdom.

The ceremony also witnessed the honoring of the winners in the initiative’s five tracks, which included cafés, cultural clubs, associations, publishing houses, and coworking spaces, in recognition of their contributions to spreading literary culture and expanding community participation. The total value of the awards exceeded one million Saudi riyals, in addition to special awards for the best innovative contribution, the best representative of regional culture, and the best media presence, encouraging initiatives that have created a sustainable cultural impact.

The Commission concluded the ceremony by celebrating outstanding partners and highlighting the most prominent success stories and achievements accomplished during this edition, providing further confirmation of the initiative’s success in building a participatory cultural ecosystem and enriching the Saudi cultural scene.

This ceremony also confirms the Ministry of Culture’s commitment to spreading cultural awareness among readers, researchers, and scholars, particularly among younger generations, while seeking to strengthen opportunities for readers to meet and engage with intellectuals and to promote culture throughout Saudi society in general