Sharjah: All roads for book-lovers lead to the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), which opens on Wednesday at Expo Centre Sharjah, featuring 1.5 million books, world-renowned authors and hundreds of activities.
As always, the 35th edition of the massive book fair is scheduled to be officially opened by His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
Winners across several publishing and literary categories will be revealed during the opening.
Following the opening ceremony, schoolchildren, families, and the general public will flood the hallways of the giant 25,000-square-metre facility, browsing through countless books, 88,000 of which are new releases.
Visitors have until November 12 to purchase books and enjoy the activities.
‘Read More’ is the theme of this year’s SIBF, and special arrangements have been made for visitors to record their readings of books, which will be presented to people with special needs.
Spread across five main halls of Expo Centre, more than 1,680 publishing houses from 60 countries are taking part this year. There will also be over 1,400 events and activities that will be held with the participation of more than 230 leading cultural, artistic, and media personalities from around the world.
Getting in
There are two main entrances to the book fair — the entrance near Al Taawun Roundabout leading into Hall 1 and Hall 2, and the entrance near Hall 5 facing Al Khalid Lagoon, where the main parking lots are located.
Students have dedicated access in the corner of Hall 5, near the reserved school bus parking lot.
Navigating around
The central corridor that runs down the middle of Expo Centre hosts the Social Media Station, and the Literature Forum and the Book Forum, where the cultural sessions will be held.
The SIBF management office is also in the middle corridor, beside the Hall 1 entrance. Each hall entrance has an information desk where free SIBF guides are available, as well as staff to assist with queries on various issues, including lost and found items.
The corridor is also dotted with restaurants and coffee shops. The male prayer room is located to the left when entering from Al Taawun (in front of Hall 1) while the female prayer room is located to the right (in front of Hall 2). Washrooms are on both sides of the two main entrances.
This year, a Kids Activities outdoor tent has been set up beside the Al Taawun entrance.
SIBF 2016
- What: Sharjah International Book Fair
- Where: Expo Centre Sharjah
- When: November 2 to 12
- Website: www.sharjahbookfair.com
- Phone: (Arabic): 06 5123344; 06 5123219 (English)
Then and Now
SIBF started out as a comparatively small fair in a tent in January 1982. Only a handful of publishers participated in the debut round.
Since then, it has grown exponentially, both in size and popularity. By 2015, the 34th edition of SIBF saw the participation of 1,547 publishing houses from 64 countries, with over 1.5 million books in 210 languages on display. The event attracted more than 1.2 million visitors, with its sales surpassing Dh135 million.
The current 2016 edition is featuring 1.5 million books, 1,680 publishing houses from 60 countries, and over 1,400 activities.
It now ranks as the world’s third largest boom fair in terms of the selling and buying of copyrights.
SIBF through the years
First edition: Inauguration that brought about an intellectual revolution
The very first edition of SIBF took place in January, 1982. Hosting a variety of cultural activities, it sowed the seeds for the fair’s consecutive successes.
Second edition: 12,000 titles in 20 sections
Commencing on October 13, SIBF 1983 featured a side exhibition on learning materials and library equipment. The two-week book fair displayed 12,000 titles in more than 20 sections.
Third edition: Unicef the first international organisation hosted at SIBF
Starting on October 8, 1984, the third edition of SIBF featured five pavilions, with 30,000 titles on display from by 254 publishing houses. The event hosted Unicef and the Emirates Writers Union.
Fourth edition: 182 publishing houses from 18 countries
The fourth edition of SIBF, which took place in November 1985, saw the participation of more than 18 Arab and foreign countries represented by over 182 publishing houses. SIBF 1985 had more than 16,000 titles on display.
Fifth edition: 30,000 titles for reading enthusiasts
A total of 320 publishing houses and cultural organisations participated in this edition, which was launched on November 4. The fair had approximately 30,000 books on display.
Sixth edition: 300 publishing houses from 22 countries
Running between November 4-14, 1987, the sixth edition of SIBF saw the participation of 300 publishing houses from 22 Arab and foreign countries.
Seventh edition: 65,000 titles in various languages
Launched on November 2, SIBF 1988 witnessed the participation of 400 local, Arab and foreign publishing houses representing 25 countries. The fair showcased 65,000 titles in several languages.
Eighth edition: Rare journals for the first time
Titles featured in this edition, which was launched on November 1, 1989, reached approximately 77,000 titles in Arabic and 16,000 foreign publications. Also featured were 64 rare journals in various languages.
Ninth edition: War disrupts holding the fair
This edition was cancelled due to the unrest that swept across the region during the First Gulf War.
10th edition: 10 local publishing houses showcase 400 titles
Held from November 13-22, 1991, the 10th anniversary edition of SIBF saw the participation of 476 publishing houses from 30 Arab and foreign countries. A total of 80,000 books were showcased, with 400 titles by local publishing houses.
11th edition: cultural programme held at the fair
The number of publishing houses and local organisations participating in the 11th edition of SIBF broke the half-thousand mark, with a total of 510 Arab and foreign entities taking part. Commencing November 3, 1992, the fair had approximately 100,000 books in several languages on display. A cultural programme was also held as part of the fair.
12th edition: 557 Arab and foreign publishing houses participate
Held on November 3, SIBF 1993 saw the participation of 557 Arab and foreign publishing houses, with 70,000 titles in various languages on display.
13th edition: Fine Art exhibitions and theatrical performances feature
The 12-day fair, launched on November 1, 1994, was attended by 500 Arab and foreign publishing houses from 35 Arab and non-Arab countries. The fair hosted a fine art exhibition, poetry evening and theatrical performances as part of its cultural programme.
14th edition: 90,000 books on display
This 14th edition of SIBF commenced on November 1, 1995 and saw the participation of 666 Arab and foreign publishing houses from 30 countries, showcasing 90,000 books.
15th edition: launch of the Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity
Twenty-five Arab and foreign countries represented by 600 publishing houses participated at the 15th edition, which took place on November 1996, with exhibitors showcasing 120,000 titles. Sharjah’s Department of Culture and Information launched the Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity at the fair.
16th edition: 620 publishing houses from 37 countries
Held from November 4-15, SIBF 1997 saw the participation of 620 publishing houses from 37 Arab and foreign countries displaying 100,000 titles.
17th edition: SIBF hosts a meeting for Arab publishers
Launched on November 3, SIBF 1998 was attended by 630 publishing houses from 45 Arab and foreign countries, with more than 100,000 titles on display. Its intellectual forum featured numerous activities, including poetry evenings, cultural seminars, a meeting of Arab publishers and a stage show.
18th edition: Figures and publishing houses honoured
The 18th edition of SIBF, which commenced on November 2, 1999, saw the participation of 33 countries featuring 718 publishing houses. Cultural figures and Arab publishing houses were honoured at the fair.
19th edition: 100,000 titles and 600 publishing houses
The millennium edition of SIBF, which was held from November 1-11, 2000, was attended by more than 600 publishing houses from 30 countries, including 19 Arab countries and 11 foreign states. The event featured over 100,000 titles.
20th edition: 18 Arab countries and 11 foreign states
Launched on November 4, SIBF 2001 was attended by more than 600 publishing houses from 39 countries.
21st edition: Largest participation of publishers in 20 years
A total of 900 publishing houses from 19 Arab countries and 15 foreign countries took part in SIBF 2002, which had nearly 100,000 titles on display.
22nd edition: Honouring the late Taryam Omran
Commencing December 6, SIBF 2003 saw the participation of 565 publishing houses from 19 Arab countries and four foreign states. The late Taryam Omran, Chairman of Dar Al Khaleej for Press, Printing and Publishing and former Minister of Education and Justice, was honoured at the event and bestowed with the ‘Fair Cultural Award.’
23rd edition: 500 publishing houses from 42 countries
His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi paid tribute to publishers, the winners of the Emirati Book Awards and cultural figures at Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn). A total of 500 publishing houses from 42 countries participated in this edition, which started on December 7, 2004.
24th edition: The Supreme Council for Family Affairs honoured
SIBF 2005 was attended by 910 publishing houses; 703 Arab and 207 European, Asian and American publishers. Over 100,000 titles were showcased. A number of publishing houses were honoured and The Supreme Council for Family Affairs was named ‘Cultural Personality of the Year.’
25th edition: Al Qasba wins ‘Cultural Organisation 2006’
Commencing December 5, SIBF 2006 saw the attendance of 655 Arab and foreign publishing houses showcasing 126,000 books, including 25,000 new titles. Al Qasba won the title ‘Cultural Organisation for 2006.’
26th edition: 30 e-publishing houses
SIBF 2007 was attended by more than 700 Arab and foreign publishing houses from 55 countries, with 130 new publishers that included 30 e-publishing houses.
27th edition: ‘Cultural Personality of the Year’ awarded to Al Khaleej Culture
Commencing on October 9, 2008, this edition witnessed the participation of 491 Arab publishing houses and 272 foreign publishers from 30 countries, including 18 Arab countries. ‘Cultural Personality of the Year’ was awarded to Al Khaleej Culture.
28th edition: 178 foreign publishing houses
Held under the slogan ‘For the Love of the Written Word’ and beginning on November 11, SIBF 2009 saw the participation of 440 Arab publishers from 23 Arab countries and 178 foreign publishing houses from 26 foreign countries.
29th edition: Ruler of Sharjah signs ‘Hadith Al Thakira’ (Taking the Reins)
His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi signing the first copies of his book Hadith Al Thakira (Taking the Reins) was a key feature of SIBF 2010. The winners of the 2010 Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature were also announced and honoured. This edition was attended by 789 publishing houses, of which 117 were local publishers, 387 Arab publishers and 285 foreign publishing houses.
30th edition: 260,000 titles on display
SIBF 2011, which commenced November 16, was attended by 894 publishing houses from 35 countries, including 14 Arab countries and 21 foreign states. More than 260,000 titles were on display throughout the event.
31st edition: 62 countries with 24 participating for the first time
Launched on November 7, SIBF 2012 saw the participation of 62 countries, 24 of which participated for the first time.
32nd edition: Publishing houses exceed 1000 for the first time
Beginning on November 6, SIBF 2013 saw the participation of 1,010 publishers from 53 countries, including 23 Arab countries.
33rd edition: Joint conference with the American Library Association
Running from November 5-15, SIBF 2014 saw the participation of 1,256 publishing houses from 59 countries, 12 of which participated for the first time. More than one million and 44 thousand titles were showcased, with over one million visitors attending. SIBF hosted the first ever joint conference with the American Library Association (ALA), which was held outside the United States for the first time.
34th edition: 1.2 million visitors to the fair
Held from November 4-14, 2015, the 34th edition of SIBF saw the participation of 1,547 publishing houses from 64 countries, with over 1.5 million books in 210 languages on display. The event attracted more than 1.2 million visitors, with its sales surpassing AED 135 million.
35th edition: 2016 - Year of Reading
This year sees SIBF celebrating its 35th anniversary, featuring a packed programme of literary, cultural and entertainment activities, SIBF 2016 takes place from November 2-12 at Expo Centre Sharjah.
