Sharjah book fair honours Egypt’s ex-minister
Dr Mohammad Sabir Arab named Cultural Personality of the Year
Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) yesterday announced that Dr Mohammad Sabir Arab, Egypt’s former minister of culture, is its Cultural Personality of the Year for 2017.
The selection of the Arab luminary for the 36th edition of the fair, which runs from November 1 to 11 at Expo Centre Sharjah, was made in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Arabic cultural and academic life, SIBF said in a statement.
A renowned proponent of Arabic culture, Dr Arab is noted for combining history, literature and intellect in his analysis and critique of Arab issues. He has been instrumental in developing Egypt’s cultural sphere and in enhancing the country’s relations with influential cultural entities, based on his vision that calls to preserve and support Arab heritage when facing contemporary challenges.
“[Dr Arab] is an inspiring cultural personality who enjoys a very high regard in the Arabic cultural arena. His career has seen him support intellectuals, encourage researchers and contribute to building a generation of educated people. Committed to engaging with Sharjah’s cultural and intellectual project, he is a regular participant at SIBF,” said Ahmad Al Ameri, chairman of Sharjah Book Authority, the organisers of SIBF.