The wait is over: Sharjah International Book Fair opens today

172 authors and 2,000 publishers to attend event at Sharjah Expo Centre

UAE residents will get a chance to meet international authors, stars and Bollywood personalities during the latest edition of Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) 2019 starting today.

The book fair, taking place at Sharjah Expo Centre from October 30 to November 9, will also feature 2,000 publishers from 81 countries.

The SIBF will bring together 173 authors from 68 Arab and foreign countries who will lead 987 activities presenting scientific, knowledge and literary themes.

In celebration of Sharjah World Book Capital 2019 title, the book fair is themed, ‘Open Books. Open Minds’.

Mexico guest of honour

The 38th edition of SIBF, which celebrates the Republic of Mexico as a guest of honour, will bring together a host of Arab and international guests and celebrities, including America’s most-loved host, Steve Harvey; Orhan Pamuk, the first Turkish novelist to win the 2006 Nobel Prize for Literature; and the leadership guru, Robin Sharma.

The international guest list includes Elisabetta Dami, a bestselling children’s author from Italy; Bernice L. McFadden, the American author of 10 critically-acclaimed novels including the award-winning The Book of Harlan.

Best-selling authors

From India, there will be poet and bestselling author Anita Nair; actor Gulshan Grover, and Jeet Thayil, an award-winning poet, novelist and musician whose first novel Narcopolis was shortlisted for the 2012 Man Booker Prize for Fiction.

The Arab guest list includes Wasini Al Araj; Ahlam Mosteghanemi, Ahmed Murad; and Omani author Jokha Alharthi, the first Arabic-language writer to win the prestigious Booker International Prize, to name a few.

987 events

The 11-day SIBF 2019 cultural programme will feature 987 events ranging from book discussions and signings, theatre, social media events, kids and cookery activities, and more, in addition to plays, magic shows, and comics-based activities.