Sharjah, City That Never Stops Reading
If you are looking for thrillers, kids books, rare and out of prints, and everything in between, then, Sharjah is the place to find them and often at a discount.
Sharjah, UAE:
This week at the Sharjah Expo Center, The Big Bad Wolf book sale is on, beginning on December 19, — 7, January, 2024.
Below is a piece I wrote after attending a press conference with the Sharjah Book Authority, back in 2017. This will give you a hint of what a great event this annual book fair is.
Speaking in Arabic, English, and Urdu, Sharjah Book Authority chairman, Ahmed Al Ameri’s message was loud and clear: Sharjah Book Fair is and event for all who live in UAE and beyond. With additional halls totaling 1800 square meters, 393 guest speakers nearly a thousand activities and exhibitions it will be an event not to be missed.
Humble Beginnings
I remember my first trip to the 18th edition of the Sharjah book fair in 2000. It was at the old Sharjah Expo grounds which looked like a long army barrack. It sat in the middle of a garden, in one corner was a small mosque and smack in the middle facing the Expo Center was a snack stand selling hot dogs and fries and other refreshments. It was open even during the break from 1–4pm. Back then, the hot sellers at the book fair were Islamic books, Pokémon cards, and Islamic trivia card sets. What a different world that was. Even then, it was still grander than the description of how the Sharjah International Book Fair began as told by Mahmoud Khalaf, of the Sharjah Book Authority during the press conference.
“We come from humble beginnings, when we started in 1982 with just six publishers. It is through the wisdom and knowledge of Shaikh Sultan Mohammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, he has helped in the transformation of UAE by his mission of making Sharjah the global book capital of the world.”
From Local to Global
That was when it was local and now the Sharjah International Book Fair is glocal. A mix of global aspiration with local sensibilities. And yet, the goal, opening the world of literature to world has remained the same. A World in My Book, was this theme for 2017. That year offered some a new venue and a few special treats. One of these new venue is the additional seventh hall, “Just finished last week,” said, Raeda Makhamreh, IT senior executive at the SBA. Another special was the People of Determination Pavillion. People of Determination is the title bestowed this title on Sharjah’s special needs community, by Shaikh Sultan, for those with special needs. “This is in cooperation with Thiqa, the Sharjah Special Needs Rehabilitation Center, which have special facilities to ensure that they too, can participate and enjoy the book fair,” said Al Ameri.
Islamic Heritage
Another extra special event is the exhibition of the Birmingham Quran manuscript, which has been carbon dated to have been written between the years 568 AD and 645 AD which disproves the myth that the Quran was written centuries after the Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, died. The manuscript is on display and with be available for all to see. This exhibition was made possible by the British Council and the London Book Fair as part of the inaugural Country of Honor program with the United Kingdom which was the country of honor. This program is organized by the British Council’s Hannah Henderson as part of a collaboration between the UAE and the UK. “This is a year-long program in which the UK will share its literary heritage from Enid Blyton to James Bond; sharing our innovations and leadership experience and skill with the publishing industry in UAE,” said Henderson.
Star Writers and Intellectuals and the World of Publishing
Have a favorite author? You might get your chance to meet them face to face. A Sharjah favorite, Arundhati Roy who will be taking about her new book, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. Curious about the behind-the-scenes action of the 2011 Revolution in Egypt? Save your questions for screenwriter and author of the thrilling mystery, Vertigo, Ahmed Murad. Also, activist and writer, Burhan Sonmez, who writes about the political conflicts of Turkey in his latest book, Istanbul, Istanbul. These are just a few not including Arabic writers from around the region: Ibrahim Nasrullah, Suood Sanusi, Leena Khouri, and Dr. Ayman Fuwad Al Sayyed. In addition to Roy other there will be a number of South Asian writers and intellectuals such as Sangeetha Sreenivasan a journalist and novelist whose book Acid, won the Thopil Ravi award.
For those who are wondering where are the English language writers, don’t worry, SIBF has got you covered. Lifestyle guru Jasmin Brett Stringer, will be on hand to discuss how to improve your life and seize the day, not to mention, her bestseller: How to Seize York Life and Young Adult Lit novelist, Morgan Matson as well as others who fans and book lovers will have a chance to meet, greet, and learn more about at the SIBF.
Writers just part of the equations, there are also publishers and libraries. Sharjah is famous for their training sessions and this year will have training sessions for publishers given by New York University of Abu Dhabi’s School of Professional Studies and by the American Library Association to share knowledge and “Get more people coming to the library,” said Al Ameri.
©2023
