PHoto used for illustrative purposes.

The Sharjah International Book Fair has announced a series of internationally recognised coronavirus (COVID-19) preventive measures, which will be implemented throughout the 39th edition, taking place from Nov.4–14, under the theme “The World Reads from Sharjah.”

The health and safety protocols to be followed by all parties coming into Expo Centre Sharjah during the 11-day book fair are in line with the UAE government’s precautionary measures to contain the spread of the virus issued in the interest of public health and safety.

The Sharjah Police will be deploying specialist teams to ensure that a variety of health and safety measures for public gatherings, as stipulated by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, are observed in three phases – before, during and after SIBF 2020.

Sanitisation gates and thermal scanners have been installed at all designated entry points at the Expo, which will be used to access the halls where the 1,024 publishers are exhibiting this year. Free face masks will be offered to visitors, and all exhibition halls will undergo a 5-hour disinfection process daily overnight, until the conclusion of SIBF 2020.

Among the precautionary measures to be followed are that publishers, guests, industry professionals and the general public will have to wear face masks and keep them on throughout the duration of their visit to the book fair, and all individuals present in the Expo Centre will need to maintain a safe physical distance from each other at all times – safe distance stickers will be installed throughout the Expo space hosting SIBF 2020.

UAE residents who would like to visit the Expo Centre to purchase books will need to pre-book slots by registering themselves on registration.sibf.com.  

Four, three-hour visitation slots are available for booking: Morning (10 am to 1 pm); afternoon (1pm to 4 pm); evening (4 pm to 7 pm); and night (7 pm to 10 pm).  Registered guests will be provided coloured wristbands according to their chosen time slot that will allow them entry into the venue. Time slots, once booked, cannot be interchanged.