The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has announced that the "Maurifa" Book Fair 2026 will take place from October 1 to 3 at the Islamic Centre conference hall in Malé. The three-day exhibition aims to foster a reading culture across the community, enhance public engagement with Islamic literature, and broaden access to scholarly and academic works.
According to the Ministry, the fair will run daily in two sessions: from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the late afternoon, and from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM in the evening. During these operating hours, visitors will have the opportunity to browse, engage with authors, and explore a comprehensive collection of titles spanning Islamic jurisprudence, history, contemporary scholarship, and general academic disciplines.
A core objective of the fair is to cultivate a dedicated commercial and networking platform for local authors, publishing houses, and book traders. By bringing diverse industry stakeholders under one roof, the event provides local writers and distributors with a centralised marketplace to showcase and sell their latest publications directly to the public.
In addition to supporting local publishers, the initiative is structured to benefit consumers by offering books at discounted and affordable rates. The Ministry noted that creating an accessible retail environment encourages broader community participation, ensuring that valuable educational and religious resources remain accessible to families, students, and avid readers.
To facilitate organised participation, the Ministry opened registration for prospective exhibitors and vendors wishing to sell their works during the event. Interested publishers and merchants were instructed to submit their official applications through the designated online portal ahead of the registration deadline to secure display booths for the October showcase.