Sharjah: The 42nd installment of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) is set to host 2,033 publishers and exhibitors from 108 nations from both the Arab and international spheres. The event will showcase an impressive array of 1.5 million titles at the Expo Centre Sharjah from November 1 to 12.
SIBF 2023, organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) under the theme ‘We Speak Books,’ will further bring together 600 authors from around the world to sign their new works. The event includes a cultural, creative, and entertaining 12-day agenda that features over 1,700 activities led by 215 guests from 69 countries.
This year, SIBF celebrates South Korea as the Guest of Honour for the 42nd edition, showcasing the knowledge and cultural scene in fields such as literature, art, technology, and the culture of the Asian country. Additionally, the Fair will also host an exhibition in collaboration with the Portuguese University of Coimbra featuring 60 historical artefacts.
The announcement was made during a press conference held at the SBA headquarters, where Mr. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA; Mr. Moon Byung-iun, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Dubai; Mr. Salem Al Ghaithi, Director of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; Ms. Khoula Al Mujaini, General Coordinator of SIBF; and Mr. Mansour AlHassani, Director of Publisher’s Services at SBA, unveiled the agenda of the highly anticipated international event. The conference was also attended by Mr. Mohammed Al Amimi, Vice President Business Engagement & Customer Support, ‘Etisalat by e&’, as well as officials and media representatives.
Mr. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, affirmed that Sharjah has become a hub connecting the East and West. Mr. Al Ameri pointed out that the emirate not only facilitates access to books for readers everywhere but also aspires to become the “Silk Road” for publishers worldwide.
“Today, we are not only here to announce the details of SIBF 2023 but also to take a new step in a cultural project that has been evolving for forty-two years. This project emphasises that books are the cornerstone of developmental plans for countries in the region and globally. That’s why we have chosen the theme ‘We Speak Books’ for the 42nd edition,” the CEO added.