Sharjah International Book Fair to kick off its biggest edition yet on November 1 – News

Several esteemed guests, including a Nobel Prize winner, a Bollywood actress and an American astronaut, will headline the event.

The 42nd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) will be the largest in its history, with an impressive collection of 1.5 million titles from more than 2,000 publishers representing 108 different countries. Starting November 1, this event will feature a host of notable guests, including American astronaut Sunita Williams, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, renowned Algerian writer Ahlam Mosteghanemi and Indian actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, as headliners.

Organized by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) and themed ‘We Speak Books’, SIBF 2023 will bring together 600 authors from around the world for book signings. This is part of a comprehensive 12-day cultural, creative and entertaining agenda that includes more than 1,700 activities led by 215 guests from 69 countries targeting all age groups and diverse interests. The announcement came at a press conference held at SBA headquarters.

“Every year our challenge is not simply to organize a book festival,” said Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, executive director of the SBA. “It’s about doing better than last year. We continue to do that. Last year we had 95 countries and this year we have 108. We don’t speak a single language or culture. We talk books from all cultures of the world. That is why we have become the destination of pioneers.”

Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Executive Director of the SBA. Photo: M Sajjad

He also added that more authors and celebrities will be part of the festival. “There are some bigger names in the pipeline,” she said. “We will announce them closer to the start of the festival.” According to him, it takes more than 15 months of planning to make the festival a reality. “At this point we have already started planning for SIBF 2025,” he said.

During his keynote speech, Al Ameri said Sharjah has become a silk road for publishers around the world, a hub connecting East and West. “The emirate’s tireless efforts have led to significant global milestones, guided by Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, who has spearheaded the advancement of the publishing industry in Sharjah, the UAE and the world,” she said. “She has laid solid foundations for the development of the country’s publishing sector. Today she continues this journey as president of the SBA.”

Honor guest

This year, South Korea is the guest country of honor at SIBF, and the festival will highlight the Republic’s unique knowledge and cultural landscape spanning literature, art, technology and culture.

Consul General of the Republic of Korea Moon Byung-iun began his speech in Arabic by thanking Sharjah for the great honor. “It’s an immense pleasure to be here,” he said. “I want to extend my sincere thanks to Sharjah Book Authority for their incredible efforts in bringing more than 20 South Korean authors, novelists, poets and calligraphers to Sharjah to showcase their work and share their knowledge through talks, workshops and many more cultural programs . I believe that the cultural exchange between Sharjah and South Korea will continue to deepen and therefore open new avenues of exchange that have never been explored before.”

He also expressed his sincere gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah and Bodour Al Qasimi, for their efforts to deepen ties between South Korea and Sharjah.

thriller festival

The second edition of Thriller Festival is scheduled to take place November 8-10 in association with Thriller Festival NY. This 3-day event will bring together acclaimed crime and thriller writers in one place. This year, the festival will highlight ten international authors, including Felix Francis, Ivy Pochoda and Candice Fox.

Six interactive spaces

This year, the festival features six interactive spaces aimed at various demographic groups. They will be home to 900 workshops led by more than 31 guests from 12 countries, offering new and diverse activities. The spaces will also include motivational and collaborative workshops for adults and children, including creative writing workshops and advanced topics such as sign language and disability support.

editor training

SIBF 2023, in collaboration with New York University, will also conduct a training program focused on international publishing standards and practices for 120 publishers. This includes 20 UAE, 50 Arab and 50 African editors. This year’s curriculum will explore the power of podcasts and storytelling to increase profits in publishing and data strategies for publisher success.

13th Congress of Editors

The Editors’ Conference will last three days, from October 29 to 31. More than 42 speakers and experts will lead 4 keynote addresses and 31 panel discussions on the first day, addressing key issues and challenges facing the publishing industry.

Sharjah Editor’s Appreciation Award and ABC Awards

During the Editors’ Conference, the winners of the Sharjah Editors’ Recognition Award will be announced. 58 candidates were nominated for the award, including 42 literary agents and 16 editors from 58 countries.

The Accessible Books Consortium (ABC) has chosen the Publishers Conference to announce the winners of the second edition of the ABC Award for International Excellence in Accessible Publishing, which aims to honor publishers who produce books for people with visual impairments.

Sharjah International Library Conference

The 10th edition of the Sharjah International Library Conference (SILC), in partnership with the American Library Association (ALA), is scheduled for November 7-9. It will bring together more than 400 international librarians and specialists representing diverse libraries in the US and about 30 additional countries.

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