The Sharjah Book Authority has announced the dates for the 45th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair, which brings together readers, writers, publishers, translators and knowledge creators from around the world. The fair will be held from 4 to 15 November at Expo Centre Sharjah.
This year's edition marks a new milestone in the fair's history, having established itself as an annual gathering for books, culture and the publishing industry, combining publisher participation, literary and intellectual meetings, and activities aimed at children and young people, as well as specialised professional tracks.
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairwoman of the Sharjah Book Authority, affirmed that the Sharjah International Book Fair reflects the relationship Sharjah has built with books over decades, through which it has made reading a part of the lives of families, children and young people. She noted that the fair has, over more than 45 years, embedded the book in the life of society and opened broader space for Arab culture to engage in dialogue with the world.
She said that each edition of the fair carries a new responsibility towards the reader, the writer and the publisher, and that the direct relationship between a person and a book is what creates a positive cultural impact and gives the fair its value in society.
She added that the fair allows cultures to present their literature and ideas in their own languages and through their varied experiences, giving audiences the opportunity to discover them through their writers and creators. At the same time, it broadens the space for Arab literature to be present in an equal dialogue with the world and brings it closer to new readers.
For his part, Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chief Executive Officer of the Sharjah Book Authority, said that the Sharjah International Book Fair is among the most expressive of Sharjah's projects in embodying the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, towards achieving development and advancing societies through investment in knowledge, celebrating the book as a civilisational endeavour.
He said the fair provides all those active in the knowledge industry with a global platform for communication, work and collaboration — from readers to writers, publishers, artists, distributors and librarians — and has succeeded in changing communities' perception of book fairs, becoming an inclusive event for all forms of communication and knowledge, and a model for the standing and presence of Arab culture worldwide. Al Ameri added:
Under the directives of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairwoman of the Sharjah Book Authority, the fair continues to develop its programmes and expand its international presence, celebrating the world's cultures on Sharjah's soil — particularly through the Guest of Honour programme, which has become an integrated track for introducing the culture of a specific country through its literature, arts and intellectual history, opening broader avenues for engagement between institutions and creators, and giving audiences a deeper knowledge of the participating cultural experiences.
The Sultanate of Oman will be the guest of honour at the 45th edition of the fair, in a participation aimed at highlighting its civilisational heritage and its cultural, literary and artistic scene, and introducing fair audiences to the contributions of its writers, thinkers and creators. The Omani presence adds a Gulf and Arab dimension to the edition that strengthens cultural exchange and enables direct meetings between the public and a selection of leading literary and intellectual voices from the Sultanate.
The fair's cultural and professional programme includes meetings with writers and thinkers, panel discussions, book-signing sessions, poetry evenings, knowledge and creative workshops, and programmes dedicated to children and young people, alongside activities addressing those working in publishing, translation and librarianship. This diversity offers visitors multiple tracks for purchasing books and meeting their authors, as well as attending discussions and acquiring new skills and knowledge.