Sharjah: The 31st edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) opens its door’s on Wednesday.
His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah will inaugurate the fair at the Sharjah Expo Centre. The fair will host over 924 publishing houses from 62 different countries along with several award ceremonies.
Pakistan is the country of focus at this year’s book fair as 30 Pakistani publishers are participating at the fair for the first time. Famous Pakistani Poets and writers Amjad Islam Amjad, Anwar Masood, Ata ul haq Qasimi, and Wasi Shah will all be participating in this year’s fair. Twenty-two Arab countries and 40 other foreign countries will participate at the 10-day event which will run through to November 17.
“The growing level of participation as well as the selection of high standard and unique publishers participating this year is a measure of the reputation of the Sharjah International Book Fair,” said SIBF Director Ahmad Bin Rakkad Al Amri.
On its first day, the book fair will also host an award ceremony for the winner of the Etislat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature, and will present several awards including the Sharjah Publishers Recognition Award and the Best Printed Book in SIBF Award.
Guests who will be attending the book fair include an elite group of prominent Arab authors and lettermen including the Egyptian Minister of Culture Mohammad Saber Arab, and Algerian novelist Ahlam Mostaghanmi, along with high-profile artists, namely renowned Egyptian comedian Adel Imam, and famous actor Yehya Al Fakhrani.
There will be also be a number of high profile non-Arab authors, like Graffin Aslar, Robert Lacey, William Hamilton, and Arundhati Roy, Indian author and winner of the Man Booker International Prize, among others.
200 diverse events will also run alongside the book fair as part of the 11-day children’s programme which will include a range of activities in the areas of art, theatre, and language.
The cookery programme will also take place at the book fair and will feature 25 events throughout the 11-day fair during which the audience will learn more about Indian, Pakistani, Gulf, and Middle Eastern cuisines presented by chefs, Nirmeen Hanno, Noushad, Gerard Baker, Zakir Qureshi, Rose Prince, Amy Riolo, Aisha Al Tamimi, Sam Clark, Monique Bassila Zaarour, and Manal Al Alalem.
