Visitors at Doha International Book Fair. Pic: Hana Ramadan / The Peninsula
Doha: As the Doha International Book Fair concluded on Saturday, it has become evident that young readers in Qatar are not limiting themselves to a single genre or field. Amid the countless aisles and selections of fiction, history, politics, and cultural books, many are using reading as a way to better understand identity, culture, and create a sense of community.
The Peninsula spoke to several visitors between the ages of 20 and 25 to explore what this generation, known as gen-z, is reading and discover more about their interests. Their responses revealed a generation not only seeking entertainment, but also searching for relatability.
Dana, a 22-year-old communications graduate with minors in film and design, described herself as someone deeply drawn to storytelling in all its forms. “Stories are always repeating themselves, everything is over and over, it’s just your interpretation of things,” she said as she explained the importance of storytelling. “I find it so interesting how every person can take their life experiences and being and put it into something that’s been said a million times.”
Some also associate reading with pure fiction and escapism. Gene Loayan, a 25-year-old resident from the Philippines who has been attending the fair for years, shared, “I love reading fiction just to get my brain stimulated from outside of work.”
When asked what he would like to see more of in the future, Loayan said he has always gravitated toward action, fantasy, and manga-inspired storytelling, and would like to see more stories catered to the region. “I would love if there was a version of these books written by a Qatar-based author sharing the experiences of a GCC kid like me.”
Others professed to using reading to expand their knowledge and global consciousness. Alreem, a 21-year-old IT student with a minor in history and business, said, “Ever since I was a kid, I was taught how important education is, and my favorite way to educate myself is through reading.”
Her interests centre largely around Arabic, Russian, and Chinese history, as well as the recurring patterns behind the rise and fall of empires. “I think we have a lot to learn from history,” she explained. “History repeats itself as a tragedy and then as a farce”.
Alreem’s growing curiousity in politics, security, and Artificial Intelligence has drawn her toward books that connect historical lessons with current global realities.
For many attendees, the fair represented far more than personal interest or growth. Nour, a 22-year-old School of Foreign Service graduate with a minor in Arabic, described reading as something deeply tied to community and culture.
“What brought me here is my community, one that nourishes reading and prioritises it,” she said. She described the fair as “something Qatar does really well, bringing all ages together to promote education.”
Through both fiction and non-fiction, Nour said she became increasingly interested in themes surrounding Gulf anthropology and the transformation of Qatari society over recent decades.
“We’ve seen such a big shift, and the way our grandparents discuss a neighbourhood is completely different to the way it is now”. She added, “What interests me is how the way the state builds itself or develops can shape communities and the local authors are a pivotal part of showcasing that.”
At the Doha Book Fair, conversations surrounding literature revealed something much larger than reading trends alone. For many people in Qatar, books are becoming a way to process and connect with the world around them; preserving and analyzing culture, exploring history and power, and embedding knowledge and community across all age groups.
