Culture & Education | Monday 3 October, 2016 5:07 pm |

Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) - an annual event organised by Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) - is a shining lodestone for Arab and global culture, successfully bringing together millions of book titles and tens of thousands of visitors, exhibitors and publishers under its umbrella. This year, celebrating its 35th anniversary, SIBF continues to expand its presence, consolidating Sharjah’s position as the Capital of Islamic and Arab culture and confidently advancing its bid to become a World Book Capital.

 

SIBF’s three-and-a-half decades of continuous success and excellence has happened under the vision and patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who outlined his vision to a youth audience at a theatrical event on April 18, 1979 with the words: “It is time to stop the concrete revolution of civil construction in the country and replace it with a cultural revolution instead." His Highness’s remarks were made just three years before the launch of the first edition of SIBF in January 1982, with the event constituting the first steps on a roadmap towards igniting youth interest in culture and knowledge.

 

His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan’s famous proverb “Culture is a wining bet” truly summarises the story of a book fair which was launched with only six publishers and no visitors. Some who had initially proposed the idea of the fair advised that Sharjah should shelve the event and search for alternative projects instead. However, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, an inspirational and aspirational leader, bet on culture and the future, with the result being that SIBF emerged as one of the emirate’s and the region’s most important events. Thanks to His Highness’s vision and confidence, SIBF now enjoys a thoroughly justified reputation as a renowned international event, a cultural extravaganza and an annual activity that is much-awaited by intellectuals and lovers of the written word.

 

From its very onset, SIBF refused to serve as just a large marketplace for books and has grown to become a major cultural event that brings together readers, publishers and intellectuals, from the Arab world and from across the globe. Capitalising on Sharjah’s internationally-acclaimed reputation, SIBF has become a destination for specialists and experts looking for a platform that connects them with other stakeholders, as well as for ordinary readers thirsty for new literary works and titles to expand their knowledge.

 

With a limited number of publishers, the first edition of the Sharjah Book Fair was opened by His Highness the Ruler on January 18, 1982. As he received delegates representing Arab publishing houses, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qasimi commented: “Bringing up children in a proper environment must be driven by faith in Arab unity, with an emphasis on the role of youth in intellectual development. Publishing houses need to play a leading role in serving these lofty principles.”

 

Two years later, SIBF had significantly expanded its profile, attracting more publishers and visitors, in particular prominent Arab cultural figures and intellectuals. The third edition of SIBF, which was opened on October 8, 1984, was attended by Yusuf Idris, Egypt’s great short-story writer and novelist. It was during this fair that His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah remarked: “Sharjah’s cultural work will witness a big leap in the coming period.” This prescience was confirmed by SIBF’s fifth edition, which saw the participation of prominent Arab figures in creative fields, including Syrian poet Adonis, Egyptian poet Farouk Shousha and late Sudanese novelist Al Tayyeb Saleh.

 

Since its inception, SIBF has been a space to enrich the cultural scene and launch new initiatives that serve not only residents in Sharjah and the UAE, but also those of all Arab countries. The last five editions have witnessed record-breaking figures, with 4.8 million people visiting the fairs from its 30th to 34th editions. The 34th edition featured 1,000 activities, an increase from the 400 taking place during its 30th edition, with exhibition space increasing from 7,600 to 16,000 square metres in the same timeframe.

 

Every year, SIBF hosts a long list of thought leaders and literary figures, carving out its position as one of the three most prestigious book fairs in the world. For each edition, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qasimi gives a speech urging people to nurture their minds with literature and reading and stresses the need for all people to support the region’s publishing industry. Typical of his comments is: “The book is entitled to be accessed by all, young and old alike. The book is entitled to be relieved from all restrictions or burdens that reduce its movement as life-blood in people’s veins." The fair has raised many inspirational slogans to remain in people’s minds, such as ‘Reading for all,’ ‘Read You Are in Sharjah’ and ‘For Love of the Written Word.’ Demonstrating His Highness’s desire to inculcate good reading habits at an early age, the theme of the 19th edition of SIBF was ‘Reading for Children.’

 

During SIBF’s 27th edition, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah unveiled ‘Knowledge without Borders’ as an extension of a series of initiatives that support outstanding publishing houses, creative writers and illustrators. SIBF allocated valuable cash prizes and awards that have now become an established tradition of the region’s most popular fair. With all its landmark achievements, SIBF is not unrealistically seeking to become the largest and most important book fair in the world. 

 

SIBF has become keenly awaited by intellectuals from across the globe. Over the years, the fair has developed into a leading event where thought leaders, intellectuals and writers get together to share ideas and views during panel discussions and sessions, in the process re-energising the cultural landscape of the region and creating a must-attend calendar activity for all.

 

SIBF seeks to instill a lifetime love of reading in everyone, attracting children and young people in particular through its activities that combine learning and fun. The fair attracts school visits and students who come from across the UAE, with SIBF reciprocating by arranging writers and guests to visit schools in the UAE to share their ideas and experiences with the students. These visits aim to introduce students to the guests’ skills in writing and story-telling to enhance the fair’s role in promoting culture and knowledge among community members and in nurturing the minds of pupils and children who are the future generation.

 

The year 2014 was a milestone in SIBF’s history because it coincided with the celebrations of Sharjah being named ‘Capital of Islamic Culture’ - a groundbreaking achievement that would not have been possible without His Highness’s immeasurable efforts and initiatives to make the emirate's name synonymous with culture. SIBF 2014 featured a rich programme of events and activities consistent with Sharjah’s well-deserved new recognition as a cultural beacon and a book capital. The following year for the 34th edition of SIBF, His Highness announced a donation of AED 4 million to purchase books from the exhibitors participating in the fair as a contribution towards the support of book publishing and investment in human intellectual development and encouraging writers in the Arab world. 

 

SIBF’s participation in literary and cultural events in fraternal and friendly countries across the world has showcased Sharjah’s rich intellectual assets on the global stage. The emirate’s activities abroad complement the events, exhibitions and conferences it hosts annually to celebrate culture and its related genres. Its excellence in this area makes the emirate a destination of choice for intellectuals, writers and publishers, as well as other professionals and people interested in cultural matters and the publishing industry locally, regionally and globally.

 

 

Timeline of Sharjah International Book Fair

 

First edition: January 18,1982

The first ever SIBF set out its stall as a major exponent of regional culture with its range of cultural activities. The audience met Palestinian Poet Mahmoud Darwish and other intellectuals and writers. This inaugural event sowed the seeds for the fair’s consecutive successes.

 

Second edition: October 13, 1983

The two-week book fair displayed 12,000 titles from publishing houses representing the UAE, Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, Iraq, Tunisia, Egypt, Britain and France, in addition to local libraries. SIBF 1983 featured more than 20 sections, including Islamist literature, language, sociology, history, geography, law, natural science, philosophy, economics and politics. An exhibition on learning materials and library equipment was held alongside the event.

 

Third edition: October 8, 1984

SIBF 1984 included five stands for Arabic books, foreign books, children's books and publications released by Emiratis and Arab residents living in the UAE. The fair brought together 30,000 titles showcased by 254 publishers, including 149 Arab publishing houses and 105 foreign publishing houses. UNICEF and the Emirates Writers' Union also had a significant presence at the fair. During this edition, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qasimi underlined the importance of bringing culture to every home by organising various activities to attract the largest possible number of community members and families to actively participate in them.

 

Fourth edition: November 5, 1985

The fifth edition of SIBF saw the participation of more than 18 Arab and foreign countries represented by over 182 publishing houses, with more than 16,000 titles on display. The Ruler of Sharjah stressed the importance of publishing books that benefit Arab citizens and nurture their minds with science and knowledge that will help them in advancing their nation in an era of challenges, with a focus on the children's books that help build the capacity of future generations.

 

Fifth edition: November 4, 1986

The 1986 SIBF was attended by 320 publishing houses and cultural organisations which showcased a total of 30,000 books.

 

Sixth edition: November 4, 1987

The11–day fair saw the participation of 300 publishing houses from 22 Arab and foreign countries, with 44,000 books on display - the largest number of books since the fair’s first edition.

 

Seventh edition: November 2, 1988

SIBF 1988, held from November 2-13, witnessed the participation of 400 local, Arab and foreign publishing houses representing 25 countries. It showcased 65,000 titles in several languages, including Arabic, English and French. On its sidelines, a poetry evening was held along with a seminar titled: ‘The Role of Arab Writer and Publisher in supporting National Issues.’

 

Eighth edition: November 1, 1989

The 1989 SIBF featured approximately 77,000 titles and publications in Arabic and 16,000 foreign books and publications. Also featured were 64 rare journals on science, art and literature in various languages. The fair was attended by 384 publishing houses, including 17 Arab countries. On its sidelines, Children's Culture Centres were opened across Sharjah and a child's centre established under the slogan; ‘We Read and Paint.’

 

Ninth edition: November 1990

This edition was cancelled due to the unrest that swept across the region during the First Gulf War.

 

10th edition: November 13, 1991

Held from November 13-22, SIBF 1991 saw the participation of 476 publishing houses from 30 Arab and foreign countries. A total of 80,000 books in Arabic and other languages were showcased, with 400 titles by local publishing houses. During the event His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qasimi called for giving Arab writers a great deal of freedom of expression, providing that their writings were responsible, balanced and searched for truth.

 

11th edition: November 3, 1992

A total of 510 Arab and foreign publishing houses and local organisations participated in the 11th edition, with around 100,000 books in several languages on display. Intellectual and cultural programmes were held as part of the fair’s programme.

 

12th edition: November 2, 1993

A total of 557 Arab and foreign publishing houses participated in SIBF 1993, with 70,000 titles in various languages on display. An array of literary programmes and cultural workshops for children were held alongside the fair, with His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah praising the positive participation of intellectuals, authors and publishers attending. He highlighted the role of writers in shaping human consciousness and the need to attract youth to the written word.

 

13th edition: November 1, 1994

The 12-day fair was attended by 500 Arab and foreign publishing houses from 35 Arab and non-Arab countries, with 85,000 titles on display – the majority of which were published after 1990. On the sidelines of SIBF 1994, an intellectual exhibition, fine art exhibition and poetry evening were held. The fair also featured theatrical performances, seminars and lectures.

 

14th edition: November 1, 1995

SIBF 1995 saw the participation of 666 Arab and foreign publishing houses from 30 countries that showcased 90,000 books. During this edition, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qasimi remarked: "The writer should make information in his book easy for the Arab reader. Students need to make greater efforts in research and investigation to find out facts and acquire knowledge so that they can contribute to enriching Arabic libraries with valuable writings.

 

15th edition: November 5, 1996

Nearly 25 Arab and foreign countries represented by 600 publishing houses participated at SIBF, with exhibitors showcasing 120,000 titles covering various human sciences. During the event His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi said: "We are in the era of a clash of civilizations and there are many schemes and plots targeting us and our existence. We must wake up from our heedlessness to become aware of what is going on around us." An intellectual forum, theatrical performances and workshops were also held at the fair’s ‘Puppet Theatre.’ Included among the workshops were tuition sessions on journalism, story writing, illustration and audio-visual compositions. Sharjah’s Department of Culture and Information launched the Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity at the fair.

 

16th edition: November 4, 1997

Held from November 4-15, SIBF 1997 saw the participation of 620 publishing houses representing 37 Arab and foreign countries, with the fair featuring nearly 100,000 books. On the opening day, the fair’s ‘Literature Square’ was opened, housing sections for poetry and music, the Dar Al Nadwa, Literature House for Youth, the Literature Café, Popular Heritage House and the headquarters of the Emirates Writers Union. Six Arab publishing houses were also honoured during this edition.

 

17th edition: November 3, 1998

The 1998 edition of SIBF was attended by 630 publishing houses from 45 Arab and foreign countries, with more than 100,000 titles on display. Over 74 local publishing bodies also participated in this edition. The intellectual forum featured several activities, including a poetry evening, cultural seminars, a meeting of Arab publishers and a stage show.

 

18th edition: November 2, 1999

This edition saw the participation of 33 countries, including 18 Arab countries and 15 foreign states. A total of 718 publishing houses attended, out of which 525 were Arab publishers and 193 foreign publishers. Five million books in Arabic and other languages and books covering various sciences were displayed. Four prominent figures were honoured during this edition; Dr. Samir Sarhan, Samira Assi, Nabil Marwa and Abdul Rahman Ghuneim, as well as four publishing houses; Lebanon's Dar Sader, Egypt’s Nahdet Misr, Jordan's Shuruq House for Publication and Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services.

 

19th edition: November 1, 2000

The 2000 edition was attended by more than 600 publishing houses from 30 countries, including 19 Arab countries and 11 foreign states. The event featured over 100,000 titles in different fields of science, knowledge and culture. The opening event saw the first sessions of the Intellectual Programme and included a lecture titled: ‘Development in the GCC Countries in the New Century.’

 

20th edition: November 4, 2001

Attended by more than 600 publishing houses from 39 countries, including 18 Arab countries and 11 foreign states, the 20-year anniversary edition of SIBF featured over 84,127 book and periodical titles. An honouring ceremony was held on the edition's fifth day, during which Kuwaiti Researcher Khalid Al Zaid, Saudi Obeikan Library, the Institute for Palestine Studies and the Lebanese House of arts and Culture received accolades and tributes.

 

21st edition: December 30, 2002

A total of 900 publishing houses from 19 Arab countries and 15 foreign countries took part in SIBF 2002. Nearly 100,000 titles were displayed. The fair included an intellectual forum, a poetry evening and a programme of seminars, as well as publishers' gatherings and other activities.

 

22nd edition: December 6, 2003

SIBF 2003 saw the participation of 565 publishing houses from 19 Arab countries and four foreign states. A number of renowned intellectuals were honoured, including the late Taryam Omran who was bestowed with the ‘Fair Cultural Award.’ A number of publishing houses and the winners of the Sharjah Award for Emirati Book were also honoured.

 

23rd edition: December 7, 2004

His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qasimi honoured publishers and the winners of the Emirati Book Awards and cultural figures at Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn). A total of 500 publishing houses from 42 countries participated in SIBF 2004. The event’s Intellectual programme included several sessions on Islam and the future and the success of the previous editions’ Arabic poetry evening was repeated.

 

24th edition: December 6, 2005

This edition was attended by 910 publishing houses, including 703 Arab and 207 European, Asian and American publishers. Over 100,000 titles were showcased, including 41,000 that were released after 2000. A number of publishing houses were honoured and The Supreme Council for Family Affairs was named ‘Cultural Personality of the Year.’

 

25th edition: December 5, 2006

This edition saw the attendance of 655 Arab and foreign publishing houses showcasing 126,000 titles, including 25,000 new ones. Four publishing houses were honoured; the Egyptian Lebanese Publishing House, Egypt's Al Farouk Publishing House, Emirati Al Jarbou Publishing House and the Egyptian Centre of Arabic Civilization for Media and Publishing. Al Qasba won the title ‘Cultural Organisation for 2006.’

 

26th edition: December 5, 2007

The 2007 SIBF was attended by more than 700 Arab and foreign publishing houses from 55 countries, with 130 new publishers comprising 119 Arab publishers and 11 foreign exhibitors. There were 58 Islamic publishing houses, 56 children's book publishers and 30 e-publishing houses. The fair featured over 100,000 titles in various languages.

 

27th edition: October 9, 2008

This edition witnessed the participation of 491 Arab publishing houses and 272 foreign publishers from 30 countries, including 18 Arab countries. Eight foreign countries participated in the book fair with Arabic publications. A plethora of intellectuals and publishers who contributed to the book industry and culture were honoured, with the ‘Cultural Personality of the Year’ awarded to Al Khaleej Culture.

 

28th edition: November 11, 2009

Held under the slogan ‘For the Love of the Written Word,’ SIBF 2009 was held with the participation of 440 Arab publishers from 23 Arab countries and 178 foreign publishing houses from 26 foreign countries. More than 110,000 titles were on display. Dr. Samir Sarhan was named ‘Cultural Personality of the Year.’

 

29th edition: October 6, 2010

The 2010 edition was attended by 789 publishing houses, of which 117 were local publishers, 387 Arab publishers and 285 foreign publishing houses. The fair featured an eclectic programme of events, such as book signings, theatrical shows for children and the Cultural Café, which encompassed various activities. His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qasimi signed the first copies of his book ‘Hadith Al Thakira’ (‘Taking the Reins’). The winners of the 2010 Etisalat Award for Arabic Children's Literature were announced and honoured.

 

30th edition: November 16, 2011

This edition was attended by 894 publishing houses from 35 countries, including 14 Arab countries and 21 foreign states, with 260,000 titles on display. Numerous activities were held on the sidelines of the fair, with many honorary awards bestowed.  

 

31st edition: November 7, 2012

The 2012 edition saw the involvement of 62 countries, 24 of which participated for the first time. The list of participating countries included 22 Arab, and 40 foreign countries represented by 924 publishing house. The fair witnessed a huge turnout of visitors eager to get a glimpse into the hundreds of thousands of titles on display.

 

32nd edition: November 6, 2013

The 32nd edition of SIBF saw the participation of 1,010 publishers and exhibitors from 53 countries, including 23 Arab countries and 30 foreign countries. Portugal, New Zealand and Hungary, participated for their first time in the Arab world. SIBF 2013 featured 405,000 titles in 180 languages - an increase of 20,000 titles from the previous year’s edition. The fair extended over an area of 16,800 square metres and included 580 intellectual, cultural and art events.

 

33rd edition: November 5, 2014

SIBF 2014 was held with the participation of 1,256 publishing houses from 59 countries, 12 of which participated for the first time; Iceland, Finland, Mexico, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Malta, Malaysia and Nigeria. More than one million and 44 thousand titles were showcased, with over one million visitors attending. SIBF 2014 included some 780 events featuring the Intellectual Programme, Kids Programme and Social Media Platform among others, with children's events accounting for 480 activities. The 33rd edition of SIBF hosted the first ever joint conference with the American Library Association (ALA), which was held outside the United States for the first time. It discussed a number of topics related to libraries and explored ways to develop them. Dr Abdulaziz Al Tuwaijri, Director-General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), was honoured as ‘Cultural Personality of the Year.’

34th edition: November 4, 2015

In 2015, there were 1,547 publishing houses from 64 countries exhibiting at SIBF and over 1.5 million books in 210 languages on display, the largest number of showcased books in the history of SIBF.  It received 1.227 million visitors as sales surpassed AED 135 million. His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah gave a generous donation of AED 4 million to purchase books from the publishing houses participating in the 34th Sharjah International Book Fair, which saw more than 1000 events. For the first time, a special stand spreading over 150 square metres was dedicated for comic books with the participation of 26 exhibitors who showcased magazines, toys, gifts and comic figures.

 

35th edition: November 2, 2016

This year, SIBF will celebrate its 35th anniversary, with a packed programme of literary, cultural and entertainment activities taking place from November 2-12 at Expo Centre Sharjah.