12-day long Sharjah book fair begins today

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2024) will open its doors on Wednesday, welcoming over 2,520 publishers from 112 countries.
It will be celebrating Morocco as the Guest of Honour, with its rich heritage and renowned writers and thinkers, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore the kingdom’s history and diverse cultural legacy and enjoy 1,357 diverse activities.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority under the theme ‘It Starts with a Book, the 12-day cultural extravaganza will welcome prominent Emirati authors and intellectuals, including Dr Sultan Al Ameemi, Dr Saeed Al Dhaheri, and writer Eman Al Yousuf.
Other notable figures include Egyptian actor Ahmed Ezz, author Ahmed Mourad, and poet Hisham El Gakh. Internationally, celebrated participants include Bulgarian poet Georgi Gospodinov, Canadian physicist Lawrence M. Krauss, Pakistani novelist Amna Mufti, British historian Peter Frankopan, and Indian actress Huma Qureshi.
SIBF 2024 will welcome Stephen Bartlett from the United Kingdom, a renowned entrepreneur, investor, bestselling author, and the host of Europe’s most popular podcast, The Diary of a CEO. Bartlett’s investments span several sectors, including health, Web3, biotechnology, and blockchain.
He is also the youngest panellist on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den and has been featured in the Powerlist of influential British figures.
The 43rd edition will host an evening of music and conversation with the celebrated Egyptian composer Omar Khairat on Nov.9 at 8:00 pm Khairat, accompanied by his orchestra, will perform a selection of his renowned compositions that have left an indelible mark on Arabic cinema and television.
On Nov.8 at 7 p.m., he will join esteemed Egyptian media personality Mona El Shazly in a dialogue exploring his illustrious career spanning over 65 years.
For the grand finale on Nov.17 at 7:30 pm, Kuwaiti artist Humood Alkhudher will delight the SIBF with his uplifting music. His music has inspired millions across the world and represents a new era of purposeful media.
This year, SIBF will present a comprehensive programme of 600 workshops for various age groups, including 465 sessions for adults and children and 135 for early childhood, covering heritage, media, entrepreneurship, technology, environment, arts, life skills, and creative writing.
In a special tribute, SIBF will celebrate Algerian author and novelist Ahlam Mosteghanemi as the ‘Cultural Personality of the Year,’ recognising her significant contributions to Arabic literature.
Notably, the fair will feature specialised thriller and suspense writing workshops, requiring prior registration, where participants can engage with distinguished creative writing experts from the Arab world and beyond.