Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF)

The 42nd edition of SIBF promises to be the fair’s biggest edition ever, claiming to show more than 1.5 million titles by 2,000 publishing houses representing 108 different countries. There will also be a packed 12-day agenda of 1,700 activities in total. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the organiser, Sharjah Books Authority, said that Sharjah has become a silk road for publishers worldwide – “a hub that connects the East and West”.

For the average book-loving visitor, highlights include book signings with around 600 authors from around the world (among them star names like Wole Soyinka, Malcolm Gladwell, and Kareena Kapoor); more than 900 workshops for adults and children, including creative writing; and a focus on support for disabilities, including a signing workshop and the announcement of the ABC International Excellence Award for Accessible Publishing.

There’s also a three-day Thriller Fest show-within-the-show (8-10 November) organised in partnership with Thriller Festival NY and bringing a collection of best-selling English-language authors to Sharjah.

SIBF runs 1 to 12 November, open daily 10am to 10pm (Fridays 4pm to 11pm).