Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) is at the ongoing 46th edition of the Kuwait International Book Fair to continue on its leading efforts of advancing Sharjah’s cultural connectedness and exchange with the Arab region and the world.
Through a series of meetings and exchanges, SBA is engaging with key officials from Arab and international cultural entities, as well as publishing industry stakeholders in order to unify efforts to transform challenges into opportunities for the entire industry including print, distribution, translation, rights, audiobooks, digital books, as well as for other creative industries.
The international event organised by the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters runs until December 2. This edition of the book fair has welcomed 486 publishers from 29 countries, including 18 Arab and 11 foreign, showcasing over 170,000 titles, including 11,000 new titles that were released this year.
Emirati and Arab titles
At its pavilion, SBA showcased the latest works of Emirati and Arab publishers and cultural institutions. The authority welcomed ministers, diplomatic and cultural figures, and representatives of participating publishers at the book fair, where they discussed the authority’s upcoming participation in international book fairs.
Official meetings
The SBA delegation welcomed HE Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, Minister of Information, Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Chairman of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL), and presented him with a copy of the Sultan of History encyclopaedia authored by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
SBA is turning the spotlight on Sharjah’s premier efforts to advance the Arab and global book industry through groundbreaking initiatives and institutions under the authority’s umbrella, including the Sharjah Public Libraries and the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone.
A vision for the future
Fadel Hussein Bussaim, Director of SBA in Sharjah’s eastern region, said: “Our participation in the 46th Kuwait International Book Fair reflects the emirate’s cultural project, rooted in the belief that knowledge and books are vital bridges connecting societies. They expand horizons, contribute to building knowledge-based societies, promote shared values, and raise awareness about the importance of communication in achieving comprehensive and sustainable development.”
SBA’s presence at the 2023 Kuwait International Book Fair is part of a series of participations, including the Seoul International Book Fair, where Sharjah was celebrated as the Guest of Honour at the 65th edition. The journey continued with appearances at the Amman International Book Fair in September and the Riyadh International Book Fair in October.
These engagements align with the authority’s vision to enrich the cultural landscape regionally and globally, fostering knowledge exchange with major international book fairs.
SBA explores expanding Sharjah’s co-op in Kuwait Book Fair 2023
