Jordanian photographer shines light on tourist attractions at Cairo International Book Fair

AMMAN — A short film featuring the work of Jordanian photographer Sami Al Zo’ubi is showcasing the Kingdom’s tourist attractions at the Cairo International Book Fair in Egypt.

The 54th edition of this annual event kicked off on Wednesday with the participation of roughly 1,047 publishing houses from 53 countries, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Minister of Culture Haifa Najjar said that Jordan’s participation as an honoured guest involves lectures, seminars, musical performances, poetry evenings and storytelling sessions as well as folkloric and traditional activities, according to Petra. 

In an interview with The Jordan Times, Zo’ubi noted that a “picture speaks a thousand words”, and expressed hope that his selected photos can serve as “ambassadors for tourism and culture”, introducing visitors and participants from countries across the world to Jordan.

He noted that the film opens with photos of Petra’s pink rock formations, which earned the site the title of the “Rose City”, and goes on to display Jordan’s ‘Bride of the Red Sea”, Aqaba, followed by other “incredible landmarks” in all four seasons. 

Zo’ubi has spent the past twelve years promoting Jordan as a “unique and attractive” tourist destination through capturing its most prominent archaeological, historical and natural sights. 

He takes pride in his work as “a national duty to highlight the Kingdom’s beauty through photographs”. 

In 2020, four of Zoubi’s photos, featuring the home of Jordan’s foremost poet Mustafa Wahbi Tal, also known as Arar, were selected to appear on Jordan’s postage stamps. 

He also launched eight solo exhibitions, participated in over 13 joint exhibitions, covered several Jordanian festivals and published a photo-book titled “Hikayet Sura”, which means “the story of a photo” in Arabic. 

The film will be screened through the duration of the fair, which lasts until February 6, at the International Exhibition Centre in New Cairo, according to Zo’ubi.