Sharjah’s 36th International Book Fair to commence in November

CAIRO – 5 October 2017: The 36th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) will commence this year from November 1 until November 11 at the Expo Centre Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.

Being the third largest book festival in the world, this year’s edition is set to host over 1,650 exhibitions across 60 countries, with the UK announced as the special guest of honor. The fair will also see the debut of publishers from South Korea, Bangladesh and Denmark. The UK’s presence this year will see a focus on English literature, helping enhance cultural relations between the UK and United Arab Emirates.

More than 1.5 million books will be available at the festival across numerous languages, and several of the authors will be speaking at the festival as well; including Palestinian poet Ibrahim Nasrallah, Saudi writer Abdo Khal, French writer Julien Columeau, Pakistani journalist Mohammed Hanif, and many others.

This edition will also focus on digital books in a special pavilion called "The Future Zone," where 10 digital book publishers will be able to demonstrate their work. The fair also features hundreds of other events to please the millions of visitors it proudly attracts.

“The Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) has turned into an all-inclusive cultural project, with books and associated initiatives constituting its primary focus,” SIBF chairman Ahmed al-Ameri tells The National.

“SIBF serves as a beacon of knowledge that brings together publishers, authors, book enthusiasts and internationally acclaimed guests in a shared passion for literature and culture.”