• Home
• /
• Opinion

Sharjah book fair brings the best of ideas and creativity

Looking for bestsellers in Arabic or English? Want to meet leading writers and improve your craft? Simply head to the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) that begins on Wednesday. The mega event has catapulted the UAE into a seat of learning and knowledge while becoming the third largest book fair in the world.
The SIBF is the first stop for knowledge for many people in the Arab world. It enhances our outlook and enables us to take what is precious and good. It also helps us reflect on the development of a society that is open to ideas, a quality that makes the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) a unique centre that promotes knowledge across the world.
An SBA delegation travels to different international fairs every 10 days and makes its presence felt through its pavilion, which also becomes a temporary community of writers. At these fairs, the SBA signs agreements with publishers to promote Arab thought and knowledge.
Towards this end, the Sharjah Book Authority supports translations with an annual grant of Dh1 million and pledges a Dh2 million translation award - the biggest such award globally. This is a motivation for the youth of the country to write and translate works of literature and make them accessible to all people, while enabling them to share knowledge with writers around the world.
The support of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, at these events needs special mention. His presence at major exhibitions across the world has greatly encouraged book lovers. His keen interest is evident as he moves around stalls, talking to writers and taking the UAE's vision of knowledge and learning to people from around the world. His untiring efforts have also showcased the UAE's tolerance to a larger audience as it welcomes literature from all over the world from different cultures and religions
Recently, I was on a trip to Europe with Sheikh Sultan where I saw him interact with the world's leading writers and publishers. Such meetings open our hearts and minds and give us hope in these violent times. Sheikh Sultan has done great work through these travels of learning and cultural understanding by portraying a true picture of Islam and of Arabs.
The Sharjah Book Authority, under Sheikh Sultan, has helped the world understand the UAE better while it opens its door to influences from abroad. It has promoted tolerance and goodwill to fight as the dark forces of terrorism and extremism that are spreading around us.
The Sharjah Ruler has laid a solid base to build skyscrapers of knowledge. And these skyscrapers are open to everyone  - attracting people who want to seek the truth without prejudice. The foundations are solid and unwavering and strengthened by the Sharjah Book Authority, the Department of Theatre, Book Fairs and Publishing, and the Sharjah Art Foundation in the emirate.
I won't be wrong to say that the charismatic Sheikh Sultan has taken the Sharjah International Book Fair to great heights. It is now a venue where the literati and researchers gather, and over 1,700 exhibitors make their presence felt. Thanks to the efforts of the government as well as the support of the civil society like the publishers' association, the fair has made a quantum leap as far as the culture of reading is concerned. This is a place where Emiratis can meet renowned authors and other creative people, where over 3,000 events are a treat for residents and visitors.
Non-Arab publishing houses constitute 40 per cent of the exhibition, and several agreements are signed with them. Over 150 new Emirati books will be launched at this year's exhibition. The growth of this book fair shows translation programmes and the country's printing and distribution efforts are bearing fruit.
Local publishers need help and the book fair is doing its best to support them. It provides a forum for creative talent from all over the world, and presents the best of UAE culture from the heart of a country that loves books.
- malzarooni@khaleejtimes.com