Amin Abbas

Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2023) has marked a new milestone for both the UAE and Sharjah, proudly declaring for the third consecutive year its status as the world’s largest book fair in terms of buying and selling publishing rights.

Concluding its 42nd edition, the fair featured an impressive array of over 15 million books spanning diverse fields of knowledge and creativity. The event hosted the participation of 2,033 publishers from 109 countries worldwide, culminating in a remarkable year of achievements, marked notably by the highest number of participating countries in its history.

Commenting on the success of the edition, Bodour Al Qasimi, Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) Chairperson, said: “It was an honor to witness the wholehearted reception that SIBF 2023 received from both global publishing industry stakeholders and the individuals that this cultural platform has been envisioned and designed for.” 

“We believe our journey in offering a diverse and inclusive platform for learning and exchange that is irrigated by the voices, ideas, and creativity of passionate minds from around the world has only just begun,” she added. 

Themed ‘We Speak Books,’ the 12-day international extravaganza welcomed visitors from 109 countries. The fair engaged book and culture enthusiasts, students from schools around the country, academics, intellectuals, and those in the creative industries, offering them a unique opportunity to explore the latest titles and interact with influencers and authors.

The spotlight of SIBF 2023 was on South Korea, the Guest of Honor, whose pavilion witnessed a remarkable influx of visitors. Throughout the 12 days, attendees immersed themselves in the rich culture and engaged with 25 intellectuals and artists leading 20 activities as part of the cultural programme titled ‘Imagination Without Borders.’

Renowned figures such as Iraqi superstar Kadim Al Sahir, author and comedian Bassem Youssef, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, Indian actress Kareena Kapoor, American astronaut Sunitha Williams, and Canadian journalist Malcolm Gladwell graced the event, sharing their experiences and journeys and launching their latest works.

Ibrahim Al-Koni, celebrated as the ‘Cultural Personality of the Year,’ with over ninety books to his name, joined the Sharjah Literary Agency (SLA), becoming its exclusive literary representative in all languages worldwide.

SIBF 2023 showcased over 1,700 cultural and artistic activities, emphasizing the deep cultural relations between Sharjah and Portugal through an exhibition titled “The Portuguese in the Gulf, 1507–1650: An Interlinked History.”

The fair further demonstrated its commitment to supporting knowledge dissemination with a generous AED 4.5 million donation from Sultan bin Muhammad to equip Sharjah’s public libraries with the latest releases.

In support of publishers, the Sharjah Publishing City (SPC) Free Zone announced a comprehensive package offering financial incentives of up to AED 3 million, along with a 90% exemption on licensing and business establishment fees.

“We take pride in the fact that each year SIBF highlights a brighter and more distinguished image of Emirati and Arab culture around the world. Under the leadership of Al Qasimi, we are eager to continue expanding Sharjah’s role as a hub of knowledge and creativity, as we firmly believe that the fruits of culture are long-lasting in society and have a sustainable contribution towards enabling communities to realize their aspirations,” said Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of Sharjah Book Authority.

Khawla Al Mujaini, General Coordinator of SIBF and Director of Events and Marketing at SBA, commented on the event, saying, “Every year, we take new strides towards ambitious goals set by Sharjah in the publishing sector, expanding creative industries’ contribution to the region’s development goals. With its achievements, this year’s book fair has proved that the opportunities for publishers and the book industry in the region and the world are limitless.”

“Sharjah’s centrality on the cultural capital map is an opportunity that will elevate knowledge and transform challenges in building societies into solutions and opportunities. The numbers of visitors and participants and the sale and purchase of copyrights assert the trust of industry professionals and readers in Sharjah and its long-term vision,” he added. 

A representative of the Egyptian Mahrousa Publishing Center said: “We are always pleased to participate at Sharjah International Book Fair, and this year we participated at the event with a huge collection of translated books specifically from Japanese literature, such as Barefoot Gen, I Am a Cat (Wagahai wa Neko de Aru), The Makioka Sisters (Sasameyuki) and the Old Boy manga series (Orudo Boi), where we have released two volumes of the series in Arabic.”

“The Sharjah exhibition is yet one of the most important and largest Arab exhibitions in the region, so we are keen to participate in the Sharjah exhibition every year and communicate with readers to know their impressions of our publication,” he shared.

A representative of Manga Arabia spoke about their participation at SIBF, saying, “We were very pleased with our participation in the Sharjah International Book Fair and the special moments we shared with the visitors to our pavilion. We were overwhelmed by their great passion for reading, their appreciation for the arts, and their keen interest in content written in Arabic that varies from young to old readers.”

“In our booth, we featured the ‘Manga Arabia’ magazines, which consist of two comic magazines (manga), one of which targets young people over ten years old, and the other targets young people over fifteen years old. The two magazines present two types of works: works written and produced by Saudi and Arab artists, and Japanese works translated into Arabic.

“The two magazines aim to strengthen the role of the Arabic language for the younger generations, as well as stimulate their imagination and promote their principles. We distributed printed copies of the two magazines in our booth, in addition to offering free applications as well as souvenirs such as bookmarks and posters with drawings of our characters,” the representative continued. 

“We were amazed at the cultural diversity that the exhibition overflowed with, where the visitor had an exceptional experience between pages of philosophy, literature, and various sciences from around the world. The exhibition also presented enriching and wonderful workshops in various fields and innovative activities for children based on the involvement of children and parents in a fun interactive atmosphere that enhances their exploration and learning.”