Qatar National Library, in partnership with the Knowledge E Foundation, hosted the third Annual Forum for Open Research (FORM) in MENA. The three-day conference brought together leading researchers, policymakers and innovators from across the Middle East and North Africa to explore and advance open research practices in the region. HE Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari emphasized that since its establishment, the library has been keen to communicate with local and international audiences, which resulted in the number of its visitors doubling in 2023 to 1.2 million visitors, after it was nearly 600,000 visitors in 2022, reflecting the keenness to make books and knowledge accessible to all, which in turn provides an environment for exploration and innovation. His Excellency said: "This year's forum emphasizes a cause central to our mission at Qatar National Library - advancing open research and fostering a culture of collaboration and knowledge exchang e that yields tangible, impactful results. The Library has spared no effort in supporting the growth and prosperity of open science ecosystems, both in Qatar and across the region. We remain steadfast in our commitment to engage with our local and global communities, preserve Qatar's rich history and culture, and collaborate with international institutions to expand the reach of knowledge." Open access is one of our core values," His Excellency added. "We believe in offering unrestricted access to our collections and services, ensuring knowledge is within everyone's reach. This not only allows us to safeguard our nation's heritage, but also empowers the people of Qatar to positively impact society by creating an environment conducive to learning, discovery, and innovation." In the same context, HE the Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the library's hosting of the forum reflects its international standing in the field of research and studies and making knowledge available to all, as one of its goals since its establishment, and as part of its vision to host such major events. His Excellency said that the Library is a pioneer in this field, as it has initiated specialized projects and is open to various international parties. He pointed out the Qatari research platform "Manara," which is concerned with academic research and was established in Qatar with the aim of collecting, preserving, and facilitating access to it. His Excellency added that the platform currently includes more than 6,000 research materials, reviewed by nearly 40,000 researchers monthly and that the openness of Qatar National Library to international libraries will enable these libraries to benefit from the knowledge provided by the library and the leadership it achieves in this field, in addition to its openness at the local level, in cooperation with various parties, through the "Qatar National Library coalition Source: Qatar News Agency