His Excellency His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and the Ruler of Sharjah inaugurated the 40th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) on Tuesday.
Theme: “There’s always a right book” The 11-day festival includes participation from 1632 Arab as well as foreign book publishing companies. This event is expected to be home to 85 books and brings an incredible group of Arab writers, intellectuals, poets and artists all over the globe.
It is organised by Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme of ‘There’s always a good book 2021’s edition of the annual cultural celebration runs from the 3rd of November until 13. The event will be celebrating Spain as the guest of honour.
The ruler of Sharjah was honoured Kuwaiti writer and novelist writer Taleb Al Refai as SIBF’s “Cultural Personality for the year’. Winner of the Sharjah Translation Award ‘Turjuman’ and the top winners of different areas in the SIBF Awards and the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature were also honored at the ceremony.
SIBF is the world’s best book fair’
In a keynote speech, Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri chairman of SBA was awed by SBA’s vision. ruler of Sharjah who’s firm faith in the outcome of the cultural initiative of the emirate has boosted Sharjah’s status as the capital of culture in all of Arab world.
Al Ameri said: “His His Majesty believed in and saw the value of culture even before the world recognized its power, which is tangible but soft. Sharjah’s cultural projects are built on its Arabic culture and identity, which has played a key role in creating connections and constructing bridges to other cultures around the globe every year.”
The SBA Chairman said: “I remember the time when His Highness said that a nation’s cultural projects are long-term, and that their outcomes cannot be realized in a year or two. I remember His Highness’s words clearly when he emphasized that the cultural project is not merely a celebration of authors and books but rather a long journey that will one day benefit those who truly believe in it.”
The Chairman concluded: “Today, after 40 years, Sharjah and the Arab people have the right to be proud of the golden dagger you pledged for a book as a young child, Your Highness, as it is we who reap the fruits of your enduring commitment to books and reading. SIBF has emerged as world’s top book fair this year, as it witnessed the highest number of deals struck in the buying and selling publishing rights.”
Al Ameri added: “Today, the strengths and beauty of Arab literature has crossed geographical and linguistic boundaries thanks to the prestigious Sharjah Translation Award ‘Turjuman’ introduced in 2011, which aims to promote Arabic titles globally. The creative works of our poets, intellectuals and authors now enjoy an international readership and till date, the award has received 16,490 translation requests from and into the Arabic language and has helped get1,493 books published.”