His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme
Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has directed the allocation of AED
4.5 million to purchase the latest publications from publishers participating
in the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), to enrich the emirate’s
public and government libraries.
The fair, held from November 4 to 15 at Expo Centre Sharjah, brings
together 3,212 publishers and exhibitors from 126 countries, showcasing
more than 1.7 million titles across a wide range of subjects, including
science, literature and other fields of knowledge.
The grant reflects His Highness’s continued support for the publishing
industry and its long-term growth, while enriching public and government
library collections with new and diverse titles. It also expands access to
knowledge for readers, researchers and students, and strengthens
libraries’ role in serving the community.
The initiative embodies His Highness’s vision, which places books and
libraries at the centre of Sharjah’s cultural development and sees
investment in knowledge as a means of developing people and their
capabilities. This vision supports writing, translation and publishing while
ensuring access to a continually updated range of knowledge resources
that meet the interests of different generations.
Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the
Sharjah Book Authority, stressed that the grant reflects a comprehensive
cultural vision that links the growth of the publishing industry with better
access to knowledge. She said that the value of books is realised when
they reach readers and maintain a presence in libraries, educational
institutions and cultural organisations.
Her Highness added that the grant provides direct support to publishers,
while giving Sharjah’s libraries an opportunity to renew their collections with
publications from different cultures, languages and disciplines. This
strengthens their role in building knowledge-based communities and
supporting the emirate’s cultural development initiatives at various levels.
Held under the theme “Made of Stories”, the 45th Sharjah International
Book Fair features more than 1,500 cultural, creative and artistic events,
with 106 writers and artists from 25 countries taking part. The fair also
welcomes the Sultanate of Oman, strengthening its status as a platform for
cultural exchange and engagement among publishers, creative
professionals and readers from around the world.
