The 42nd Sharjah International Book Fair has Concluded

Closing of the 42nd Sharjah International Book Fair, the world's largest for the third consecutive year. Dive into a collection of 15 million diverse books, celebrating knowledge and creativity.

on Nov 15, 2023

The 42nd Sharjah International Book Fair has Concluded | Frontlist

The 42nd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2023) has finished, marking an important milestone by keeping its position as the world's largest book fair for the third year in a row. The event included a remarkable selection of approximately 15 million books covering a wide range of knowledge and creativity.

SIBF 2023 was a tremendous year of accomplishments, featuring the biggest number of participating countries in its history, with the involvement of 2,033 publishers from 109 countries. The fair, themed 'We Speak Books,' drew visitors from 109 nations, drawing book aficionados, students, educators, intellectuals, and creative industry experts.

South Korea took centre stage as the Guest of Honour, attracting significant attention and attracting a large number of people to its pavilion. Iraqi superstar Kadim Al Sahir, author and comedian Bassem Youssef, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, Indian actress Kareena Kapoor, American astronaut Sunitha Williams, and Canadian journalist Malcolm Gladwell attended the event, sharing their experiences and launching their latest works.

Ibrahim Al-Koni, named 'Cultural Personality of the Year,' joined the Sharjah Literary Agency (SLA), becoming the agency's sole literary representative worldwide. SIBF 2023 featured nearly 1,700 cultural and artistic activities, with an emphasis on Sharjah-Portugal cultural interactions through an exhibition named "The Portuguese in the Gulf, 1507-1650: An Interlinked History."

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi generously donated AED 4.5 million to the fair in order to stock Sharjah's public libraries with the most recent publications. The Sharjah Publishing City (SPC) Free Zone presented a comprehensive package including cash incentives of up to AED 3 million, as well as a 90% exemption on licencing and business establishment fees, in support of publishers.

Sharjah Book Authority CEO Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri expressed delight in SIBF's global recognition and contribution to exhibiting Emirati and Arab culture to the world. The successful completion of SIBF 2023 underlines Sharjah's role as a knowledge and innovation hub, achieving His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi's goal. The expo welcomed 2,033 publishers, displayed over 1.5 million titles, and hosted 1,700 events conducted by 215 visitors from 69 countries, including 127 notable Arab and international writers and artists from 33 nations.