Sharjah book fair honors Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom participates as a guest of honor at Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), which kicks off Wednesday and will end on Nov. 26. At the fair, Saudi Arabia will be displaying books about the Two Holy Mosques, the Kingdom’s international scientific awards, brochures about the heritage sights in the Kingdom as well as other governmental publications. The area will also have sections for art, calligraphy and a library for children. Minister of higher education Khalid Al-Angari said this participation indicated the high level the Kingdom enjoyed on the Arabic, Islamic and international scale.  The general supervisor for the international ooperation department at the ministry and general supervisor of the Kingdom’s section at the book fair said that the event would also include a cultural program with participation of a number of Saudi academics and thinkers.  The Ministry of Higher Education has cooperated with a number of government bodies, including the Ministry of Information, King Abdul Aziz Public Library, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities and the UAE Cultural Bureau. The Sharjah International Book Fair is an annual 10-day event that draws over 800 publishers showcasing books from nearly 42 nations and attracts more than 400,000 visitors. The event is held at the Expo Centre Sharjah. Ahmad bin Rakhad Al-Amri, director of the book fair, said: “This year, in celebration of the 30th anniversary, the professional program at SIBF will be expanded to include matchmaking sessions, a translation program, and the launch of a $300,000 fund to provide translation grants, networking and educational programs.” The fair will also provide a program for children with more than 200 entertainment activities.