Sharjah's Souq Al Jubail history to be told in new bilingual book

Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Ahmed bin sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and CEO of Kalimat Group, attended the announcement of a collaboration between Kalimat Group, through its Sarab imprint, and Sharjah Asset Management to produce a bilingual Arabic-English coffee-table book chronicling the history and development of Souq Al Jubail in Sharjah.

Sheikh Sultan and Sheikha Bodour visited Sarab's pavilion at the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026), held at Expo Centre Sharjah, where they were briefed on the project's plans. Scheduled for release at the next edition of SIBF in November 2027, the book will document Souq Al Jubail's history and development through text and photography. It will examine the market's role in serving the community and supporting food security, fishermen and traders, while presenting Sharjah's vision of balancing cultural preservation with development needs.

Ahmed Al Ali, General Manager of Kalimat Group, said: “This collaboration offers an opportunity to document the story of Souq Al Jubail and the vision and efforts behind its development. The market combines local heritage with modern facilities that serve the community, making its story worth preserving for future generations.”

He added: “Through Sarab, we aim to produce a visually rich book that traces the project's development, the challenges faced during its implementation and the lessons learned from its management and operation. We hope the bilingual publication will provide a comprehensive account of a project that brings together Sharjah's cultural heritage and community needs.”

The book will chronicle the transformation of the old market into Souq Al Jubail, exploring the project's development, the collaborative efforts behind it, the management of change and the challenges encountered during its implementation and operation. It will also draw on the firsthand experience of Ali Al Suwaidi, the book's author and Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration at the American University of Sharjah, who oversaw the project through to the market's opening, documenting key lessons and opportunities for future development.

It will also examine Souq Al Jubail's role in supporting food security, fishermen, and traders, with a focus on food quality, hygiene standards, and affordable prices, offering insight into the market's operations and its contribution to the local community.

Through Sarab, Kalimat Group will oversee content development, writing, editing, proofreading and translation, as well as photography, design, art direction, printing and the completion of publishing requirements.

Combining narrative and visual documentation, the book will trace the market's development, from the initial vision and relocation to its new premises to operational challenges and future plans, ahead of its scheduled launch at SIBF in November 2027.

Accompanying Sheikh Sultan and Sheikha Bodour were Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Statistics and Community Development; Sheikh Saud bin Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director General of the Sharjah Digital Department; His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture; His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Authority; Ahmed Al Ali, General Manager of Kalimat Group; Sultan Musabeh Al Ketbi, Chief Markets Management Officer at Sharjah Asset Management; Ali Hassan Al Suwaidi, the book's author and Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration at American University of Sharjah; and several officials and cultural figures.