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Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has announced the dates of the 36th edition of Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) as 1-11 November 2017. The region’s premium platform for publishers of education, science, literature, art and culture titles takes place annually at Expo Centre Sharjah. In addition to the main exhibition, the event brings together hundreds of authors and publishers from around the world, with distinguished guests participating in a comprehensive programme of conferences, reading sessions, panel discussions and lectures.
According to the book authority, the Arab book market is worth US$1 billion per annum and Sharjah has worked hard to establish itself as a leader in the region’s book publishing industry. The emirate has recently been named ‘World Book Capital 2019’ by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and is expected to inaugurate its new global book publishing hub, Sharjah Publishing City, during SIBF 2017.
Last year’s Sharjah International Book Fair hosted 1,681 publishing houses from 60 countries with approximately 1.5 million titles on display. The fair was visited by more than 2.31 million people over its 11 days, with footfall figures setting a new record for the show. Book sales also reached the highest levels ever, with an estimated AED 176 million (US$ 48.2m) worth of sales conducted during the fair.
The SBF announced earlier this year, that the United Kingdom will be hosted as the SIBF Country of Honour, with the fair featuring a special programme showcasing some of Britain’s most honoured cultural and literary figures organised in collaboration with the British Council. The programme forms part of ‘UK/UAE 2017,’ a year of bilateral cultural exchange between the two countries organised by the British Council.
Meanwhile, Sharjah Publishing City is expected to sell out, accommodating up to 400 publishers in its two-storey, 20,000 square metre facility on the Sharjah-Dubai road. The facility will house publishers, distributors, printers, translators and associated publishing businesses
Source: SBA
