Fnac Qatar’s presence at the 35th Doha International Book Fair was more than a retail showcase.
Held from 14 to 23 May 2026 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, the event gave the brand a prominent platform to underline its role in Qatar’s cultural landscape, particularly around French language, publishing and creative dialogue.
The participation was organised with the Embassy of France in Qatar and the French Institute of Qatar, continuing a partnership that has become a familiar fixture for Francophone readers and families in Doha.
At a glance
- Fnac Qatar participated in the 35th Doha International Book Fair from 14 to 23 May 2026 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.
- The French pavilion featured a refreshed design, French-language releases, multilingual titles and cultural programming with authors, students and creatives.
- The initiative was developed with the Embassy of France in Qatar and the French Institute of Qatar, reinforcing long-running support for Francophone culture in Qatar.
A French pavilion designed for cultural exchange
This year’s pavilion arrived with a more immersive concept, dressed in the blue, white and red of France.
A new interpretation of the Eiffel Tower was integrated into one of the walls, while illustrations of French landmarks gave the space a stronger visual identity without turning it into a simple photo backdrop.
The pavilion also included a dedicated area for the French Institute of Qatar, where visitors could explore French courses and programmes connected to Francophone culture.
For readers, the offer ranged from recent French-language releases across multiple genres to selected English and Arabic titles, making the stand accessible to children, students, families and general book fair visitors.
Doha’s book fair as a meeting point for ideas
The Doha International Book Fair has grown into one of the region’s most visible literary events, drawing publishers, readers and cultural visitors from Qatar and abroad.
Its appeal now sits at the intersection of publishing, education, tourism and public dialogue, which makes it a natural setting for institutions that want to build bridges through language and the arts.
His Excellency Arnaud Pescheux, Ambassador of France to Qatar, described the fair as “one of the most important book fairs in the region” and noted the French stand’s recognition through its Eiffel Tower design.
He also highlighted the visit of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, to the French stand during the event.
For the ambassador, the fair offered a timely space for exchange between cultures and for promoting French publishing and authors in Qatar.
Workshops, storytelling and a wider community programme
Fnac Qatar’s programme extended beyond shelves of books, with activities built around creativity, education and direct contact with artists.
In collaboration with the Embassy of France in Qatar and the French Institute of Qatar, the pavilion welcomed Qatari filmmaker Mahdi Ali Ali, who presented his role as scriptwriter behind the new series project “Un Qatari à Paris”.
The pavilion also continued its school-focused programming by hosting students from 20 classes at leading schools teaching French in Qatar.
Those workshops were led by French author and illustrator Marie Poirier, giving younger visitors a hands-on encounter with illustration, storytelling and the French language.
The programme later moved beyond the fair itself, with Marie Poirier appearing at Fnac in Lagoona Mall for a Meet & Greet and book-signing session organised with the French Institute of Qatar.
Fnac Qatar’s long-running role in the fair
Fnac Qatar’s connection with the Doha International Book Fair dates back to 2014, when the Fnac concept was introduced to Qatar, a year before the store officially opened.
That history gives its participation a sense of continuity rather than a one-off cultural activation.
Bader Al-Darwish, Chairman and Managing Director of Darwish Holding, said the fair continues to enrich Qatar’s cultural landscape through literature, education and the arts.
He also described culture as deeply rooted in Fnac Qatar’s DNA, pointing to the brand’s continued collaboration with the Embassy of France in Qatar and the French Institute of Qatar.
For Qatar’s Francophone community, the pavilion offered a clear point of connection.
For the wider public, it showed how a book fair can function as a lively civic space, where language learning, publishing, cinema, illustration and family engagement can sit comfortably under one roof.
Fnac Qatar’s latest appearance at the Doha International Book Fair ultimately reinforced a simple but important idea, that cultural presence is built through consistency, access and the ability to bring different audiences into the same conversation.
