Spanish expat Grace, who lives in Dubai Marina, spent two hours getting to the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) on its opening day. “Since moving to the UAE six years ago, I’ve attended the book fair every year,” she said. “This year, I wanted to be here on the first day because a famous Spanish journalist and writer is speaking. He’s a big deal back home. It’s worth sitting in traffic for two hours just to hear him.”
The 43rd edition of SIBF began on Wednesday, featuring over 2,500 publishers from 112 countries. This year’s fair is especially exciting for book lovers, with Morocco as the guest of honour.
The event was opened by Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, a Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who emphasized efforts to promote the Arabic language and warmly welcomed visitors from around the world.
Family Day Out
Grace attended the fair with her 4-year-old son, Diego. She appreciated the variety of materials available. “I’m really interested in Arabic, and my son goes to an Arabic school,” she said. “I find useful study materials here that I can’t get in other bookstores. Plus, there are publishers and books from around the world. Over the years, I’ve discovered some unique books here.”
Taking Time Off Work for Literature
For some, attending the fair is serious business. Abdulla Hassan, who lives in Dubai, took nearly ten days off work to visit SIBF every day. “My wife and I both published books this year, and we plan to attend all 11 days of the fair,” he said. “Last year, I came after work and got stuck in traffic every day. So this year, I decided to take time off and focus on the book fair.”
For Abdulla and his wife, Sajna, SIBF is also a chance to reconnect with friends. “We’re part of a large literary community, and almost all our friends are publishing books,” Sajna explained.
“Even those not publishing still come every day to hang out. We attend book launches, buy books, and support each other. SIBF is one of the most awaited events each year. It’s 11 days of pure literary fun. We meet and hear from many respected authors and literary figures.”
Busy Workshops
On the first day, the halls of the Sharjah Expo Centre were packed with visitors, even though it was a weekday. Students flocked to various kids’ workshops in Hall 7. Some workshops offered cooking classes, while others focused on music and painting.
Thirteen-year-old Nabil was there with his younger brothers, Noah and Yunis. The boys from Victoria International School of Sharjah joined a creative writing session. “It was really interesting, and we learned how to write a story,” Nabil said. “The host asked us questions and taught us how to create exciting heroes and villains.”
First Time at SIBF
Having moved to the UAE just two months ago, it was the family’s first time at SIBF. “It’s very interesting,” said Yunis. “We live nearby, and my mum said we might come back a few more times because there are so many workshops I want to try.”
