Sharjah: Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has opened the 42nd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF).
The event, organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) under the theme ‘We Speak Books,’ is running at Expo Centre Sharjah until November 14. The inauguration was also attended by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.
During his keynote speech, Mr. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the SBA, highlighted the remarkable growth and achievements of SIBF under the visionary leadership of Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed.
Following the opening ceremony, the Sharjah Ruler toured SIBF, accompanied and briefed by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, on the participating pavilions, institutions, entities, and publishers, and on the diverse agenda during the 12-day fair.
Sheikh Sultan explored the pavilions of various Sharjah-based entities to gain a better understanding of their contributions to the cultural landscape and their support for literary, cultural, and scientific endeavours by Emirati and Arab authors and intellectuals. The Sharjah Ruler also visited several pavilions showcasing the latest works from local and Arab publishers across diverse knowledge, culture, and scientific domains.
The 2023 edition of SIBF sees an impressive participation of 2,033 publishers hailing from 109 countries. This includes 1,043 Arab publishing houses and 990 foreign counterparts, collectively showcasing 1.5 million titles. This remarkable collection comprises 800,000 Arabic titles alongside 700 titles from other languages.
Furthermore, the 42nd edition distinguishes itself with 215 prominent Arab and international writers, thinkers, innovators, and artists who will lead 1,700 activities, including 900 workshops, musical performances, theatrical productions, and culinary events.