A book fair that soon turned into a literary carnival, the 2018 edition of Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) was attended by a number of book lovers from various nations.
Aimed to create a global reading community by advocating its benefits among children, establish book fairs as an oasis of knowledge and enlightenment, and promote the love of the written word in a professional, timely and organised manner, the 11-day event witnessed the participation of leading Arab and international writers, artists, intellectuals, cultural personalities, chefs, performers, publishers, distributors and exhibitors.
The yearly occasion is a one of a kind cultural extravaganza organised under the aegis of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah and Member of the Supreme Council, where enthusiasts and industry personnel from different countries meet up to share learning, explore other cultures and discuss endeavors to enhance the world’s literary literacy.
In the year 2013, ‘The Bookseller’ from Britain recognized SIBF as one of the top four book fairs in the world. Guided by Al Qasimi’s commitment to modern and classic literature, and his vision to have a global presence in the international book industry, the book fair acts as a strong bridge of communication between UAE and the world.
The 37th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) was held from October 31 to November 10 at the Sharjah Expo Center in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Many eminent personalities were present at the marquee event, including Arab diplomat and author Omar Ghobash, Algerian author Ahlam Mosteghanemi, British business writer Emma Gannon, Indian composer L Subramaniam, Palestinian poet Ibrahim Nasrallah, and Arab actor Habib Ghuloom.
The numbers for this year were more impressive than ever. For example:
- More than 1.6 million titles were on display.
- Some 20 million units were available to visitors; at least 80,000 of those titles were new.
- 1874 publishers participated as exhibitors.
- The fair comprised of 1800 events, involving 472 guests and presenters.
- 15 out of 77 represented countries were new.
In the words of Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman, Sharjah Book Authority, “The love of words can unite humanity in one place where there is no room except for good.”
