The Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) achieved an incredible milestone this year by hosting over 600 book launches, the highest number ever in its 43-year history. Officials believe this landmark achievement highlights SIBF’s role as a central platform for authors in the region.
Mohan Kumar, External Affairs Executive at SIBF, said: “This is the largest number of book launches at a single edition of the fair. Until a few years ago, we only had 10 to 15 launches annually. The growth in numbers over the past couple of years has been extraordinary.”
Writer’s Forum: A Platform for New Voices
Kumar credits the Writer’s Forum for the surge in book launches. Unlike many international book fairs that focus mainly on established authors, SIBF created a space for emerging and first-time writers. This unique platform features a special enclosure with seating and soundproofing, providing a supportive space for authors to launch their work.
“This initiative started because we noticed many aspiring writers wanted to launch their books at SIBF,” Kumar explained. “Initially, we accommodated them within the fair’s existing halls, but as interest grew, we decided to create a dedicated space for them. That’s how the Writer’s Forum was born.”
The Sharjah government supported the project with Dh350,000 in funding, making the forum a reality. This year alone, the forum received 750 applications, of which over 600 writers were selected. With 25-minute slots running throughout the day, the forum also allowed multiple authors to share time slots. In one session, as many as 10 books were launched simultaneously.
Inspiring Stories from the Fair
The 2023 edition of SIBF witnessed several memorable launches. One of the most heartwarming was a book authored by 62 women from Kerala, India. Some of the women, including daily wage workers, sold their jewelry or took loans to afford the trip to Sharjah and share their work. Their journey demonstrated the life-changing impact of SIBF.
Another standout feature was the significant participation of young writers. More than 100 of the books launched this year were written by children and teenagers. Among them was 13-year-old Sajini, a prodigious talent who has authored 24 books in five languages. In another event, 17 children aged 7 to 12 collaborated on a book and launched it during the fair as part of a creative writing workshop.
Young Authors Leading the Way
Each young author inspires their peers to pursue their creative dreams. One notable launch was The Power of Reading by 17-year-old Arab Reading Challenge winner Ahmed Al Kawkabani. The young author’s journey and passion for books are encouraging many others to explore reading and writing.
Continuous Growth and Global Inspiration
As SIBF wrapped up on Sunday, Kumar shared insights into what goes into planning such a successful event. “Planning for the Sharjah Book Fair is a year-long process,” he said. “Our team travels to over 35 book fairs worldwide to observe trends and identify unique ideas. We bring those insights back to Sharjah to make our event better every year. We’re already working on making next year’s edition bigger and more impactful.”
The success of SIBF continues to inspire authors, especially emerging talents, by providing a unique platform that blends creativity, community, and global connections.
