Photos: Mask up, Sharjah book fair begins on November 4

Sharjah - When Khaleej Times visited the Sharjah Expo Centre on Monday, vendors in masks and gloves were seen stacking up titles in a 10,000-square-metre area.

Four time slots to visit, temperature checks, mandatory masks, an adequate social distance between visitors and 80,000 books: This is what this year’s Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) will look like when it opens on November 4.

When Khaleej Times visited the Sharjah Expo Centre on Monday, vendors in masks and gloves were seen stacking up titles in a 10,000-square-metre area. Guards were seen testing the thermal cameras at entry points, while some staff thoroughly sanitised touch points. Hand sanitising stations were seen installed across the venue.

Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of the Sharjah Book Authority, told Khaleej Times that ultraviolet rays will be used to scan the venue at the end of each day to ensure that there is no virus. “We have taken all precautions to keep the visitors safe. Just make sure you register before coming and that you wear masks. If you don’t have a mask, we will give you one. A special camera will check your temperature before you enter.”

The 39th edition of the fair, which runs from November 4-14, will see 1,024 publishers from 73 countries exhibit the written word.

The hybrid event — which will see books being exhibited in-person and cultural events hosted virtually — is being held under the theme ‘The world reads from Sharjah’.

Visitors to the event must register on registration.sibf.com to be allowed entry.