Experts from LinkedIn, Dubizzle and Kaspersky Lab to Headline at Sharjah International Book Fair

Experts from major technology companies operating in the fields of e-commerce, information security and social networking will be headlining at the 36th edition of Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2017). The representatives will be participating at the Social Media Station at the world’s third largest book fair, which runs from November 1-11, at Expo Centre Sharjah. 

Senior officials from LinkedIn, Dubizzle and Kaspersky Lab will be speaking about their sites, how they work and the most effective ways of utilising them. During the 11-day SIBF 2017, the representatives will be discussing online marketing, dealing with crises in digital platforms and food and book blogging at the Social Media Station, which will also host a series of training workshops, some of which have been designed especially for government employees.

“The Social Media Station is an innovative event that brings together reading enthusiasts, regular internet browsers and social media celebrities within SIBF’s vision to promote culture that allows visitors to develop their knowledge in all aspects of life. This year’s Social Media Station will see a new development with its training workshops, a number of which have been organised for government employees. The hosting of these sessions comes in line with SIBF’s eagerness to enrich the knowledge and experience of staff within government bodies and to equip them with the latest skills for the digital age,” said Khoula Al Mujaini, Head of Marketing at Sharjah Book Authority.

Among the guests participating at the Social Media Station will be Zaid Darwazeh, Director Public Sector at LinkedIn, the social network for professionals, who will speak about how to find appropriate career opportunities through the site. He will also discuss the future of building sustainable digital economies that reflect the global vision of heads of state who strive to achieve excellence in their communities by providing opportunities for young people.

Also appearing at SIBF will be Maya Alexander, Founder and CEO of House of Social, who will present two workshops: ‘Social Marketing Skills on Instagram’ and ‘Topics that Spark Public Opinion on Social Networking Sites.’ During the first workshop, she will address ideas and skills that can be used in marketing products and services and even ideas via Instagram. At the second, she will reveal the topics that generate the greatest responses from the public.

Abdullah Touqan, Director of Communications and Public Relations at Dubizzle and Olx MENA, two leading Arab ecommerce websites, will highlight the most important methods of using data in expanding the user base in emerging markets, how smartphones are changing marketing and shifting towards marketing through applications on smart devices.

The Social Media Station will also host Abdul Rahman Hammad, corporate and digital communications expert, who will moderate two workshops: ‘Crisis Management in the Digital World’ and ‘Housing and Work in a Bag.’ He will discuss the most important basics for dealing with institutional crisis Inception across digital platforms during the first workshop and provide answers on how social media celebrities earn money while travelling around the world at the second.

Also as part of the Social Media Station will be Ahmed Abdul Ghani, Social Media Manager at Kaspersky Lab, a leading MENA cybersecurity company providing high-end security solutions. He will present a workshop entitled ‘How to Stay Safe on Social Networking Sites.’

Libyan blogger Nairuz Gherfal, who specialises in food blogging, will be attending the fair to speak about her experience in providing healthy nutrition advice to followers, while blogger Farooq Nasim who works as an editor and proofreader at international publishing houses, including Penguin UK Books, A. Knopf, HMH books and FSG, will talk about his specialist field of promoting books in the Middle East through blogging. Nasim has 25,000 active followers on Twitter.

The Social Media Station is a major event at SIBF and one that has been designed to enable audiences to learn about the latest technological developments and innovations that help enhance living. The stand will host an array of diverse activities and workshops involving a galaxy of social media influencers who will be addressing significant cultural, media and social issues.