Controversy is growing among Egyptian publishers ahead of the 57th edition of the Cairo International Book Fair, scheduled to take place in January, following the announcement of steep increases in booth rental prices ranging between 60% and 250% compared to the previous edition. Publishers warn that these hikes will further raise book production costs and, consequently, retail prices for readers, at a time when Egypt’s publishing industry is already struggling with mounting production expenses and a severe economic downturn that has reduced book sales and caused financial losses for publishing houses.
Paper and printing supply prices in Egypt have sharply increased between 2022 and 2025, driven by global market fluctuations, rising import and energy costs, and geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea, in addition to limited domestic production. Egypt’s local paper production is estimated at around 200,000 tons per year, while domestic consumption reaches approximately 500,000 tons annually. As a result, the country relies heavily on imports—particularly of white paper and newsprint.
In 2022, the price of locally produced paper jumped from 10,000 pounds ($208) to around 58,000 pounds ($1,208) per ton, while imported paper rose from $600 to $1,400 per ton, marking a 250% increase in two years. In 2023, prices continued to climb, reaching about 45,000 pounds ($937) per ton due to global supply shortages and rising production costs. By 2024, the local price stabilized at 45,000 pounds ($937) per ton, while international prices exceeded $1,000 per ton amid Red Sea tensions and higher import-related costs. In 2025, printing paper prices surged again by 40%, with local prices ranging between 27,000 and 34,000 pounds ($562–$708) per ton, and imported paper exceeding 40,000 pounds ($833) per ton. Although global paper prices fell by 20–25% in 2025, Egypt’s domestic market did not experience a similar decline—something publishers and suppliers described as “commercial exploitation.”
These price hikes have deepened the crises facing Egypt’s publishing and printing sector. Several publishing houses encountered financial hardship, forcing them to scale back production, exit the market, or relocate to other Arab markets. Despite these challenges, Egypt’s printing and packaging exports recorded significant growth, reaching a total value of $889 million in 2024, with a 25% increase in April 2025 compared to the same month the previous year. According to the Export Council, the sector’s exports grew by 8.6%, registering $464 million in the first half of 2024, with a target to double this figure to $1.7 billion by 2027.
Meanwhile, the subscription fee for a 9-square-meter booth at the 57th Cairo International Book Fair in 2026 was set at 24,300 pounds ($506), while an 18-square-meter space costs 52,650 pounds ($1,091). A 27-square-meter booth costs 85,050 pounds ($1,761), and a 36-square-meter booth is priced at 121,500 pounds ($2,516). A 45-square-meter booth costs 162,000 pounds ($3,354), a 54-square-meter booth 206,550 pounds ($4,277), and a 63-square-meter booth 255,150 pounds ($5,283).
The price for a 72-square-meter booth is set at 307,800 pounds ($6,372), 81-square-meter booths at 364,500 pounds ($7,545), 90-square-meter booths at 425,250 pounds ($8,810), 99-square-meter booths at 490,050 pounds ($10,146), 108-square-meter booths at 558,900 pounds ($11,574), and 117-square-meter booths at 631,800 pounds ($13,083).
According to the announced data, a 100% surcharge applies to the standard rate of 5,400 pounds ($112.50) per square meter for booths exceeding 117 square meters. The General Egyptian Book Organization also set a price of 6,000 pounds ($125) per square meter for premium booths allocated to Egyptian publishers who are members of the Publishers Union.
A Publishing Market That Repels Investment
The new increases in booth rental prices at the Cairo International Book Fair are expected to affect the participation of many publishers. Some plan to reduce their booth sizes at least to minimize expenses, even if that means no profit, a move that could ultimately “filter out the market” and leave the publishing industry restricted to a limited number of houses that receive direct support—either through government purchases or external dealings that guarantee them the lion’s share of the market, according to publisher Gamal Abdel Rahim, director of Al-Maktaba Al-Arabiya for Publishing and Distribution.
Abdel Rahim explained that the rent for his 18-square-meter booth has increased by about 67%, rising from 32,000 pounds ($667) last year to 52,000 pounds ($1,083) this year. He said he is seriously considering not participating in the fair—or withdrawing altogether—because reducing either the number of printed titles or the booth size would inevitably lower sales, potentially leaving him indebted to the General Egyptian Book Organization (GEBO) without a way out.
He told Zawia3: “Book profits can in no way cover these massive increases in booth rental prices at the Cairo International Book Fair. Talk of financial support for publishers is unrealistic. The prices are highly inflated, and the so-called ‘premium booths’ offer no real advantages to justify the cost increase, except for being located at the front rows or near the main halls, which does not justify a 100% rise.”
Abdel Rahim stressed that Egypt’s publishing market has become “a repelling environment for investment,” noting that many Egyptian publishing houses have opened branches in other Arab countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Tunisia, and Morocco to escape the difficult domestic conditions and to participate under those countries’ names in regional fairs, gaining recognition and awards under their flags.
He added: “It’s similar to what happens in other fields when athletes seek new nationalities to escape local realities. The migration of Egyptian publishing houses abroad is clear evidence that the Egyptian market is no longer attractive for cultural investment.”
Abdel Rahim proposed a series of urgent measures to rescue the publishing industry, including lifting the entry restrictions to the fair and making access free for visitors, introducing 200-pound ($4.17) coupons for school students to purchase books at the fair (with publishers reimbursed later by the organizers), as practiced in some Arab countries. He also called for fair government book purchases, a 50% reduction in booth rents, educational and training sessions for publishers, and regular meetings with officials from various ministries.
For his part, writer and publisher Ragai Moussa, founder of Dar Han for Publishing and Distribution, said that the latest price increases for booths at the Cairo International Book Fair “are destroying the real book industry.” He explained that this is not just about higher rents but about the overall damage being inflicted on the publishing market.
He argued that such steep rent hikes would inevitably lead to higher book prices, especially amid inflation and a worsening cost of living, which would make book purchases even less affordable. “The crowds at the fair are only superficial,” he said, noting that most visitors come for leisure or food rather than to buy books. “For the past two years, we have hardly made any sales at the fair.”
Moussa warned that small publishers are the most affected by these increases because of their limited budgets and inability to absorb losses, while larger publishing houses can still survive. Cutting the number of editions or printed copies, he said, would not change the reality of losses, since “participating in the fair has already become a losing gamble from the start.”
He told Zawia3: “The book fair should be managed jointly with the Publishers Union, not solely by the General Egyptian Book Organization, since the Union is the legitimate representative of publishers and the true stakeholder. I see these unjustified rent increases—reaching up to 68%—as a form of miserable capitalist exploitation that turns the fair from a cultural event into a commercial game that has nothing to do with the book industry.”
Moussa added that the division between “premium” and “regular” booths was unjustified, as the real difference lies only in location inside the hall. He said the 9-square-meter booth, whose rent had remained stable in previous years, rose this year without logic. “The state is profiting off publishers instead of supporting them, while Egypt’s book industry is already in ruins,” he said, warning that the latest decisions will further shrink both the publishing and reading markets.
The Dar Han founder called on the government to assume responsibility for supporting books and providing real facilities for publishers—such as reducing paper prices and offering affordable logistics services—alongside adopting policies that encourage creative freedom and sustain the book industry as part of Egypt’s soft power. He emphasized that the Publishers Union should play a larger role in defending its members by negotiating fair prices and providing tangible support, insisting that booth rent increases “should not exceed 20%, in line with the reality of Egypt’s publishing market.”
In the same context, publisher Heba Bendary, director of Wow Publishing House, said there had been a prior agreement to keep booth rental prices stable at the Cairo International Book Fair—or at least to apply only modest increases—as was the case in previous editions. However, this year’s increase was “outrageous,” she said, noting that the rent for a 9-square-meter booth rose from 13,300 pounds ($277) in the previous edition to 24,300 pounds ($506) this year—an increase of 11,000 pounds ($229). She added that the prices of premium booths also rose dramatically, with a 9-square-meter premium booth now costing 54,000 pounds ($1,125).
She told Zawia3: “For large booths, the increases sometimes exceed 70%, creating a heavy burden on publishers. These costs ultimately add to book prices, which affects readers and consumers. These developments come amid consecutive increases in the prices of paper and ink over the past three years, pushing many publishers to reduce the number of titles and printed copies—something that harms both the publishing industry and readers.”
Bendary affirmed that such rent hikes are not covered by sales in any way. Publishers, she said, have not been making profits from participating in the fair but rather suffering recurring losses for years, expecting this year’s losses to be “even worse.” The higher prices, she warned, would also reduce the number of participating publishers, especially since fair organizers banned shared participation in small booths over three years ago.
She added: “For 9- or 18-square-meter booths, only one publishing house is allowed to rent the space, while shared booths are permitted only for areas starting from 36 square meters. This has placed small publishers in a critical position—especially with the current rent hikes. I expect the situation this year to be ‘worse,’ because even those renting 9 or 18 square meters alone will face enormous costs. Meanwhile, the Egyptian Publishers Union cannot do much under these circumstances.”
The Wow Publishing director said saving Egypt’s publishing industry requires improving distribution mechanisms to ensure books reach wider readerships, organizing affordable book fairs and events throughout the year, expanding e-publishing and digital book access, and utilizing artificial intelligence tools in publishing, editing, and marketing to enhance efficiency in the sector.
Over the past few years, booth rental prices at the Cairo International Book Fair had remained relatively stable between 2021 and 2022, with the price per square meter fixed at 1,200 pounds ($25). However, in January 2023, the General Egyptian Book Organization switched to pricing in U.S. dollars for Arab and foreign participants, setting the price for a 9-square-meter booth at $1,110 and for larger booths between $131 and $141 per square meter, while maintaining partial subsidies for Egyptian publishers.
In the 2024 edition, the price for Egyptian publishers renting a 9-square-meter booth was about 13,500 pounds ($281), while Arab and foreign publishers paid between $1,135 for a 9-square-meter booth and $2,340 for an 18-square-meter one. By 2025, booth rental prices climbed again to 16,605 pounds ($346) for 9 square meters and 33,210 pounds ($690) for 18 square meters. In the 2026 edition, prices jumped further to 24,300 pounds ($506) per booth.
Booth rental prices at the Cairo International Book Fair rose sharply in 2025 compared to 2024, by rates ranging between 13% and 47%, in addition to a basic 9% increase plus a 14% value-added tax, bringing the average final price increase to around 26.7%.
Book Prices Expected to Rise
The recent increases in booth rental prices at the Cairo International Book Fair—estimated at around 50% to 60%—will inevitably lead to a similar rise in book prices, according to Walid Mostafa, head of the Exhibitions Committee at the Egyptian Publishers Union. He explained that publishers are now forced to raise book prices to cover higher rental costs in addition to other operational expenses such as staff salaries, printing, and transportation.
He told Zawia3: “Such steep price hikes put the publishing industry in a very difficult position since every increase in cost is ultimately borne by the reader. The current situation is incomparable to other countries where book fairs are supported by governments that ease the financial burden on publishers. In fairs such as those in Kuwait or Libya, the cost per square meter does not exceed $100, yet publishers still receive clear government support. In Egypt, however, publishers bear the full cost without any real assistance.”
Mostafa explained that although the Egyptian fair draws a large audience, sales volumes do not reflect that turnout, as many visitors come for leisure or recreation rather than to buy books. “Readers today can hardly afford more than one or two books due to high prices and the rising cost of living, which has made reading budgets extremely limited,” he said.
Regarding the reasons behind the sudden and unexpected rent hikes, Mostafa revealed that the General Egyptian Book Organization justified the decision by citing higher operational costs, rising wages for workers and suppliers, and an increase in the rent of the exhibition grounds themselves—all of which impacted final booth prices. He added that in previous years, payment facilities or installment systems were available, but this year those arrangements were canceled. Publishers are now required to pay half of the amount upfront before receiving their booths and the other half during the fair, with payments accepted only by credit card.
The committee chair believes that the crisis affects not only readers but also publishers and authors. The surge in booth rents and printing costs will likely reduce the number of new publications as publishers try to cut expenses and may even lower overall participation in the fair. This, in turn, will negatively impact authors and the publishing movement in general. “Some readers might turn to electronic alternatives,” he said, “but the real losses will fall on publishers and creators who depend on book fairs for distributing their work.”
Mostafa also noted that Egypt’s current Minister of Culture had previously affirmed the state’s commitment to supporting the cultural industry. However, the current rise in prices imposes a new reality that requires direct intervention to ease the burden. He called on state institutions to participate in supporting the cultural sector and reducing booth rental costs for publishers.
He added: “The Egyptian Publishers Union is currently studying proposals through its various committees to lower costs or obtain direct financial support in upcoming editions. However, these are temporary measures and insufficient to resolve the crisis at its roots. There is an urgent need for a clear vision and a genuine partnership between the state and the Union to save the publishing industry from decline.”
For his part, Farid Zahran, president of the Egyptian Publishers Union, told Zawia3 that any increase in rental prices at fairs like the Cairo International Book Fair inevitably affects publishers’ participation, book prices, visitor turnout, and overall sales. “Every publisher is harmed by these increases,” he said, “because of the obvious link to higher display, production, and distribution costs.”
Zahran clarified that the Egyptian Publishers Union is not the organizing body of the fair and has no authority to set booth rental prices. Likewise, the General Egyptian Book Organization is not solely responsible for organizing the event—it is part of a broader system that includes the Ministry of Culture and other governmental bodies involved in decision-making. The Union, he explained, maintains constant communication with all relevant parties—not just the Book Organization. He noted that ongoing coordination has existed for years between the fair’s executive management, the Ministry, and contracting entities to reach the best possible solutions.
He told Zawia3: “Pricing is always determined according to an equation that calculates operational costs, rentals, and service expenses, just like in other international and Arab book fairs. The Book Organization bears significant operational costs related to the venue and services provided. Still, all parties are working together to find ways to reduce these costs or secure sponsorship support to ease the burden on publishers. The final pricing simply reflects the actual cost structure of the fair.”
On October 15, the Egyptian Publishers Union issued an official statement explaining that discussions about booth rental prices for the 2026 edition of the Cairo International Book Fair began in early August, when the General Egyptian Book Organization proposed the planned increase. The Union’s board objected to both the scale and basis of those increases and held several negotiation rounds with the Organization’s former chairman and its representatives on the Union’s board. However, these efforts did not yield the desired results. The statement confirmed that the Union’s president repeatedly demanded—through his membership in the fair’s Supreme Committee—a reduction in prices to allow broader publisher participation, but the requests were not met at the time.
The statement added that after Dr. Khaled Abu Al-Lail assumed the role of Acting Chairman of the General Egyptian Book Organization, the Union’s board continued its discussions with him and found that the high cost of organizing the fair was not the responsibility of the current administration. Partial progress was achieved, resulting in a price reduction for the 9-square-meter booth from 3,800 pounds ($79) to 2,700 pounds ($56) per square meter, with proportional reductions applied to other booth sizes. These adjusted prices were later included in the Organization’s official tender booklet.
According to the statement, the new prices represent increases ranging between 60% and 250% compared to the previous edition—significant hikes despite the relative improvement in Egypt’s economic indicators and a decline in inflation and exchange rates. The Union warned that these increases could send negative signals to the publishing industry and reduce Egyptian participation, potentially leading some publishers to withdraw or downsize their presence.
Fair Management: “We Are Not the Decision-Makers”
In response, Dr. Ahmed Megahid, Executive Director of the Cairo International Book Fair, told Zawia3 that the booth rental rates and the per-square-meter pricing had been agreed upon earlier between Dr. Khaled Abu Al-Lail, representative of the General Egyptian Book Organization (GEBO), and Engineer Farid Zahran, president of the Egyptian Publishers Union. The agreement resulted in reducing the price per square meter from 3,800 pounds ($79) to 2,700 pounds ($56), and this took place before the Minister of Culture’s decision to appoint him as Executive Director of the fair. Megahid clarified that he was not present at the meeting where the pricing was determined and that financial decisions related to booth pricing do not fall under his executive authority.
On September 22, Minister of Culture Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hano issued a decree appointing Dr. Ahmed Mostafa Megahid, Professor Emeritus at the Department of Drama and Theatrical Criticism, Faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University, as Executive Director of the 57th edition of the Cairo International Book Fair. Earlier, on June 3, the Minister had appointed Dr. Khaled Abdel-Halim Mohamed Abu Al-Lail, Professor at the Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts, Cairo University, as Deputy Chairman of the General Egyptian Book Organization.
The Executive Director affirmed that the management of the fair has no control over determining booth prices, as this process falls within the jurisdiction of the General Egyptian Book Organization, which holds full authority over financial and organizational matters. He explained that the executive administration’s role this year is limited to field management only, as part of a new experimental approach to fair administration.
Megahid added that publishers reserve booths according to the pre-approved prices, and bookings are made based on the announced rates for different locations and spaces. Any changes or modifications to prices, he stressed, are not within the authority of the executive management but rather the responsibility of the organizing and financially supervising body—namely, the General Egyptian Book Organization.
For his part, Dr. Khaled Abu Al-Lail, Chairman of the General Egyptian Book Organization, affirmed the institution’s respect and full support for both the Egyptian and Arab Publishers Unions, emphasizing that all stakeholders are working to facilitate publisher participation and present the Cairo International Book Fair in the best possible light as a cultural event representing Egypt on the global stage. He explained to Zawia3 that the booth pricing process was based on meticulous financial studies that accounted for the diversity of booth sizes and the varying categories of publishers. These studies, he said, were discussed in formal meetings between the Organization and the Egyptian Publishers Union, chaired by Engineer Farid Zahran, resulting in mutual understandings that balanced actual operational costs with the support provided to publishers.
In conclusion, the ongoing dispute between publishers and the General Egyptian Book Organization over the steep increase in booth rental prices at the Cairo International Book Fair reflects a deeper crisis facing Egypt’s publishing industry—where economic pressures intersect with a lack of institutional support and weak cultural policies. While the organizers insist the price hike stems from rising operational costs, publishers argue that such consecutive decisions are accelerating the decline of Egypt’s local publishing market and threatening the future of Egyptian books, amid persistently high paper and printing costs and the declining purchasing power of readers.
Nevertheless, the crisis offers a genuine opportunity to reconsider the policies governing book fairs and support for the publishing industry through a genuine partnership between the Ministry of Culture and the Egyptian Publishers Union—one that balances operational requirements with the needs of publishers and ensures that the Cairo International Book Fair continues to stand as the Arab world’s largest cultural event, embodying diversity and creativity rather than reflecting the burdens and constraints of the market.
