Sharjah: The 43rd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2024) concluded after receiving 1.82 million visitors from over 200 countries, cementing its status as a global cultural hub. Held from November 6-17 under the theme ‘It Starts with a Book’, the event hosted over 2,500 publishers and exhibitors from 108 countries, maintaining its position as the world’s top book fair in publishing rights transactions for the fourth consecutive year, registering 3,000 meetings in 48 hours.
According to Emirates News Agency, the fair attracted visitors from the UAE, India, Syria, Egypt, and Jordan, with the largest age group being those between 35 and 44 at 32.18%. This was followed by visitors aged 25 to 34 at 31.67%, and young adults aged 18 to 24 at 13.7%. Men accounted for 53.66% of the attendees, while women represented 46.36% of the visitors. Additionally, the exhibition welcomed 135,000 students from various schools nationwide, reflecting the growing interest in fostering a reading culture among you
nger generations. The Book Signing Corner saw over 1,000 authors unveiling their latest works.
H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, underscored the emirate’s cultural commitment by allocating AED 4.5 million to enrich public and governmental libraries. This investment enabled the acquisition of new Arabic and international titles, reinforcing the role of libraries as essential knowledge hubs.
Reflecting on the 43rd edition, Ahmed Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, expressed that the fair’s achievements represent a significant addition to Sharjah’s cultural journey. By welcoming 1.82 million visitors and hosting over 2,500 publishers and exhibitors globally, the event has evolved from a book fair to a comprehensive cultural ecosystem, connecting creators, readers, and stakeholders in the literary and publishing sectors.
He emphasized that this accomplishment highlights the global significance of the cultural vision set by H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sulta
n bin Mohammed Al Qasimi and pursued by the Sharjah Book Authority under the leadership of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi. The fair has become an inspiring model dedicated to the book and its creation, driving the culture of reading and strengthening the publishing industry locally and internationally.
The fair also spotlighted Algerian author Ahlam Mosteghanemi as the Cultural Personality of the Year for her contributions to Arabic literature. It celebrated the completion of the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language, a monumental 127-volume project that preserves centuries of linguistic heritage, produced in collaboration with Arabic language academies.
Morocco was honored as the Guest of Honour, showcasing its literary and cultural heritage with a pavilion featuring over 4,000 titles, rare artefacts, and sessions led by Moroccan intellectuals. This added depth to the cross-cultural dialogues hosted throughout the fair.
This year’s programme included a diverse lineup of global icons from literatu
re, arts, and sports, with workshops, seminars, and panel discussions featuring over 85 Arab and Emirati writers and 49 international literary figures.
