42nd Sharjah International Book Fair: highlights

The 42nd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) (November 1-12, 2023, Expo Centre Sharjah),organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), with the theme “We Speak Books,” was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The show attracted 1043 Arab and 990 international publishers who showcased over 1.5 million book titles, including 800,000 in Arabic and 700,000 in other languages

During his keynote speech, HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, emphasised that the 42nd edition of SIBF has attracted publishers and exhibitors from 109 countries, collectively representing more than half of the world’s nations. He asserted that this global gathering is in fact a reflection of SIBF’s evolution into a pioneering force that continues to leave a lasting impact on both Arab and global cultures.

Bringing world cultures together -Guest of Honour South Korea

Chulho Yoon, President of the Korea Publishing and Culture Association, remarked, “Back in June, Sharjah was at the Seoul International Book Fair as Guest of Honour, and as a result, Koreans have been able to really get to know the cultures of Sharjah and the UAE, and we are here to further this vibrant exchange.”

Sharjah announced Guest of Honour at Greece’s Thessaloniki International Book Fair 2024 (May 16th to May 19th, 2024, in Greece)

HE Ahmed Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, expressed his thoughts on this prestigious title, saying, “Greece’s celebration of Sharjah’s contributions to Arab and global culture encapsulates the enduring and profound connections between Sharjah’s cultural institutions and their counterparts. Simultaneously, it provides a new platform for forging partnerships and cultural cooperation.”

Nikos Koukis, President of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture, stated, “This collaboration has been in the making for two years, and we are confident that celebrating Sharjah will open up new avenues of communication. It will strengthen cultural bonds between Greece, Sharjah, the UAE, and the Arab world.”

Khoulah Al Majini, Director of Events and Marketing at SBA, said, “During our participation in the Thessaloniki International Book Fair 2024, we will be keen on translating the deep-rooted historical relations between Arab and Greek cultures and convey the values that reflect the UAE’s cultural identity, whether through writers and creatives or our music and folk heritage, and the ongoing intellectual and cultural movement in Sharjah and the UAE in authorship, publishing, translation, and advancing libraries.”

Sultan Al Qasimi allocated AED 4.5 million to enrich Sharjah libraries

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has allocated AED 4.5 million for the acquisition of the latest publications presented by 2033 Arab and international publishers during the ongoing 42nd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair. This initiative aims to furnish the public and government libraries in the Emirates with a diverse range of literary content.

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, expressed, “The grant from His Highness is a continuation of Sharjah’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the publishing industry and enrich both public and government libraries. The support offered by the Sharjah Ruler each year enables publishers to continue to grow and expand. It also updates Sharjah’s libraries with new releases across genres of science, knowledge and literature, which enables them to better serve their members and visitors and continue fostering a knowledge-based society”.

Bodour Al Qasimi presides over first Sharjah Book Authority Board of Directors Meeting

The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA)’s newly formed board of directors had their first meeting on the side-lines of the ongoing 42nd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2023), to discuss a future roadmap for making the authority’s initiatives and partnerships more impactful in advancing the development of the publishing ecosystem in the UAE and beyond. Along with the local members some,International Board members attending the meeting included John Ingram, Chairman of Ingram Content Group; Youngsuk ‘YS’ Chi, Chairman of Elsevier; Markus Dohle, Executive Vice President of the PEN America Board of Trustees, and Gaurav Shrinagesh, CEO India and South East Asia and Member Global Executive Committee, Penguin Random House.

SPC Free Zone announced an exclusive package for publishers and creatives

Mansour Al Hassani Director of Publisher Services at the Sharjah Book Authority and Acting Director of SPC Free Zone, said SPC Free Zone is committed to providing exceptional customer service and flexible and practical solutions to meet the needs of entrepreneurs and publishers.The Limited-time Publishers Startup Package includes a one-year licence, 1 investor visa and 20 visa allocations.

SPC Free Zone stands out as the first-of-its-kind publishing free zone for entrepreneurs and investors aiming to establish their businesses in the UAE. Widely renowned for its ease of registration and licensing speed, it collaborates with a diverse range of industry stakeholders and serves as the central hub for 1,500 publishers and investors hailing from over 40 countries.

Kareena Kapoor at SIBF 2023: I stay confident because of my fans

Indian actor-turned-author, and mom of two, Kareena Kapoor Khan opened up about pregnancy, films and more to thousand fans of cinema and reading at the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2023). The actor whose 2021 book Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Pregnancy Bible: The Ultimate Manual for Moms-to-be has been widely read worldwide, asserted to her SIBF 2023 audience. In a heart-to-heart conversation with UAE-based presenter Rania Ali, she said that she approached her book in a way so it could serve as a helpful reference, particularly for first-timers – both expectant and new mothers.

Om Books International wins SIBF Award @ Sharjah International Book Fair 2023

Om Books International from India won the Best International Publisher award at the 2023 Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF). Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), honoured the winners of the 42nd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair Awards and the 15th edition of the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature. The award ceremony was attended by Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, along with prominent authors, intellectuals, and media figures.