The Ruler of Sharjah Inaugurates the 43rd Annual Sharjah International Book Fair

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan inaugurated the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair, celebrating Arabic culture, global literature, and the Arabic language corpus.

on Nov 08, 2024

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah inaugurated the 43rd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair on Wednesday. The fair, organized by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) under the theme ‘It Starts with a Book,’ will take place at Expo Centre Sharjah until November 17.

The 12-day event commences today at Expo Centre Sharjah. It will feature 2,523 publishers and exhibitors from 108 nations and provide nearly 1,400 literary and creative activities for attendees of all ages.

The Ruler of Sharjah was welcomed by several senior officials, thinkers, and authors. In his address, the Ruler of Sharjah emphasized initiatives aimed at promoting the Arabic language, its literature, sciences, and history, stressing the crucial importance of the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language in this mission, and reaffirmed his dedication to enhancing knowledge, fostering cultural awareness, and promoting the Arabic language on an international scale.

His Highness extended a warm greeting to the global audience, stating: “We are pleased to welcome you to the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair. We appreciate the esteemed guests, including scholars, thinkers, authors, publishers, and media representatives, for their remarkable attendance, which signifies the sustained vitality of our culture.”

The Ruler of Sharjah expressed his pride in this significant event that honors the book at the highest level and showcases an exceptional program, including the unprecedented success of the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language. He stated: “Today, we celebrate two beloved events. First is the Sharjah International Book Fair – for books serve as the foundation for nations' success, progress, and evolution. In Sharjah, we cherish and respect them and their advocates because they are our most esteemed companions and builders of communities and generations. As Al-Mutanabbi famously remarked, ‘The dearest place in the world is the saddle of a galloping horse, and the best companion in life is a book.’ Our second joy is the completion of the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language, a significant scholarly accomplishment achieved by a team of more than 700 contributors, including authors, editors, reviewers, coordinators, and production staff. I sincerely thank everyone who participated in this monumental cultural effort.”

His Highness described the vision behind the corpus as a long-desired aspiration for the Arab community. He elaborated on his guidance over the years that led this project to realization. The Ruler of Sharjah remarked that the corpus safeguards a priceless linguistic and cultural legacy, setting the stage for future initiatives that honor Arabic as a remarkable and lasting language. “This corpus has been a personal dream, rooted in my conviction that safeguarding the language equates to preserving its people, history, literature, and true identity. For seven continuous years, advocates for the Arabic language dedicated themselves to this project, gathering linguistic resources, maintaining historical poetry, documenting language rules, and recording cultural narratives. May Allah reward their efforts, as the dictionary is now finalized in 127 volumes.”

The Ruler of Sharjah discussed the extensive range of the dictionary, including classical Arabic poetry, the Holy Quran and Hadith language, and modern language found in media and social discussions. His Highness affirmed that Sharjah is dedicated to cultural and knowledge initiatives aimed at enhancing and promoting Arabic: “The Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language signifies a significant milestone in cataloging our linguistic heritage, incorporating vocabulary, poetry, and linguistic references from both classical and contemporary Arabic. We celebrate this achievement not as a conclusion but to highlight our relentless commitment to the ongoing pursuit of knowledge, the dissemination of Arab culture, and the empowerment of the Arabic language globally.”

His Highness expressed: “I bring good news to the Arab world regarding its Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language, and I am delighted to unveil a new academic venture, the Comprehensive Arabic Encyclopedia, which will encompass sciences, literature, arts, and noteworthy individuals. This ambitious project aims to reconnect the Arab world with its rich heritage of scientific, artistic, and literary accomplishments, as well as the lives of its prominent scholars, jurists, philosophers, writers, poets, and many others, linking the present of the Arab world with its vast historical context.”

In his closing remarks, His Highness addressed scholars, cultural advocates, and those seeking knowledge, reiterating the continuity of significant scholarly initiatives and a hopeful outlook for the Arabic language. He stated, “To my children: the future holds a wealth of major scholarly endeavors, and I have faith that the future of Arabic is bright and prosperous. The Arabic language will persist as long as life endures, safeguarded by the preservation of the Holy Quran.”

The Ruler of Sharjah recognized the celebrated Algerian author and novelist Ahlam Mosteghanemi, who was honored as the 'Cultural Personality of the Year' for the 43rd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF). His Highness also paid homage to the leaders of Arabic language academies who played a part in the completion of the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language alongside Al Qasimi Publications, which managed the execution, printing, and presentation of the complete volumes, and took commemorative photographs.

After the opening ceremony, His Highness signed copies of the finished Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language, an unprecedented project documenting 17 centuries of the Arabic language's evolution across 127 volumes, and honored team members who worked diligently to complete the project. The Sharjah Ruler penned on the copy, “By God’s grace, the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language project has been finalized.”

In his keynote speech, His Excellency Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), emphasized that Sharjah's true strength, as envisioned by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, goes beyond architectural and urban growth. It is rooted in nurturing human potential through a steadfast dedication to knowledge. This deep commitment has positioned books at the forefront of Sharjah’s vision, illuminating minds and opening doors to limitless opportunities.

Al Ameri remarked: “Every gathering at the Sharjah International Book Fair reinforces the solid foundations of Sharjah’s ambitious cultural vision, where books have always been the cornerstone of our highest aspirations. Since its inception, the emirate has pledged to elevate books as the central axis upon which our present and future are constructed. It embarks on a bold, global mission that celebrates Arab identity and engages with cultures worldwide.”

“Yesterday, we wrapped up the publishers' conference, during which over 2,000 publishers from 108 countries signed over 3,000 contracts. This marks the fourth consecutive year this platform has enabled the highest volume of global rights transactions. For the next 12 days, we will host the finest libraries from across the globe, enriching our visitors’ experiences,” he added.