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12 November 2009,
These books will be distributed among public libraries in the emirate.
His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, touring the stalls after the opening ceremony said the Sharjah Book Fair is one of the important pillars of culture and knowledge in the UAE. It was established 28 years ago to spread Arabic culture, promote the language and Islamic civilization and build cultural bridges with nations around the world.
The book fair will run till November 21. Visitors are allowed in from 10am to 10pm everyday except Fridays when the fair will be open from 4pm to 10pm.
The opening ceremony was attended by Herman P. Spruijt, president of the International Publishers Association (IPA), as well as more than 500 publishers from around the world.
More than 440 Arab and 178 western publishers are participating in the fair with 110,000 titles in Arabic, English and other languages being displayed in 530 stalls located in four halls.
On the sidelines of the opening ceremony, Dr Shaikh Sultan also honoured the winners of Sharjah Publishing Award, including Dar Kalimat Publishing and Distribution and Dar Waeal, both from the UAE, and Explorer Publishing and Distribution from Jordan, and the winner of Sharjah Award for Best Emirati Book. He also honoured posthumously late Mohammed Sarhan, Egyptian writer who was selected the Cultural Personality of the Year.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Spruijt said the IPA’s main objectives are to promote freedom of expression, fight censorship, raise awareness on the value of publishing to society and promote policies that support the development of local publishing industries and international exchange.
“As an industry association, IPA also deals with a number of issues affecting publishers’ day-to-day work, from supporting book fairs to standardisation in our industry such as the international book standards. Nowadays, interoperability and standardisation for e-book platforms and web access are high on our agenda,” he said.
“A lot of people do not realise that our industry is very dependent on government policies: copyright and copyright enforcement, fixed book price mechanisms, educational policies, yes, even paper prices and further trade conditions! In fact government’s policies on education, copyright and publishing restrictions, such as censorship can determine whether a publishing industry is worth its name at all. All these key policies have a special international dimension. Copyright is actually regulated at international level. Equally, campaigning for freedom of expression and freedom to publish always has a human rights aspect and has, therefore, an international element. Finally whilst the combinations of challenges for publishers in every country are special, the problems themselves rarely are.”
Abdullah Al Owais, Director of the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information, said Dr Shaikh Sultan launched the “Knowledge without borders” project at the last year’s book fair. As part of it, a large number of books were distributed to families which really appreciated the Ruler’s gesture. The project was commended by UNESCO, describing it as a quality scheme directed to development of humanity.
His Highness Shaikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, launched his latest book titled, ‘Sard Al That’, which in Arabic means autobiography, after inaugurating the 28th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair 2009 on Wednesday morning. The book highlights the Sharjah Ruler’s life not only in the 40s to the 70s but also has historical events of Sharjah, the Gulf and the Arab world including the spread of Arab nationalism, as well as the fast cultural and educational progress of the emirate. “In sharing my autobiography, I hope readers will get to relive my experiences vicariously, and know more about that historical period. The vast legacy of heritage and the people’s attachment to special landmarks like Sharjah Fort did not only help them define their personality but has given Sharjah a unique cultural identity,” said Shaikh Dr Sultan. A significant aspect of the book is the author’s ability to objectively and concisely discuss the region’s extensive history, and its interrelation with his own personal life, travels and experiences. “I have written this book to document 26 years of history that involves my family, people and my country. To narrate the story in eloquent Arabic, I experimented different writing styles, edited and refined the language until I was convinced and decided to name the book ‘Sard Al That’,” explained Shaikh Dr Sultan. An official at Al Qasimi publishing said Shaikh Dr Sultan’s extensive education and subsequent professorial candidacy in the Gulf and Arab region affairs has contributed to his wealth of knowledge on the subject, having published a total of 29 books translated in a number of languages and on various subjects. Due to their popularity, many of Shaikh Dr Sultan’s titles are used in teachings in local schools and universities. The Fair’s visitors will be among the first to be able to purchase the Arabic book that will be available at the Al Qasimi Publishing stand in hall 3 - stand number 365, at Sharjah Expo.
Ruler Launches Autobiography