Sharjah · People & Culture
Sharjah Ruler Allocates AED 4.5 Million to Buy SIBF 2026 Titles for Emirate’s Libraries
The Ruler of Sharjah has allocated AED 4.5 million to buy new titles from SIBF 2026 publishers for Sharjah’s public and government libraries.
His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has directed the allocation of AED 4.5 million to purchase the latest publications from publishers taking part in the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026). The books will enrich the emirate’s public and government libraries.
SIBF 2026 in numbers
- Dates: November 4 to 15, Expo Centre Sharjah
- Theme: “Made of Stories”
- Publishers and exhibitors: 3,212 from 126 countries
- Titles on show: more than 1.7 million
- Events: more than 1,500 cultural, creative and artistic activities
- Guests: 106 writers and artists from 25 countries
The fair also welcomes the Sultanate of Oman, reinforcing its role as a meeting point for publishers, creative professionals and readers from around the world.
Supporting publishers and widening access to knowledge
The grant reflects the Ruler’s ongoing support for the publishing industry and its long-term growth. By adding new and diverse titles to library collections, it widens access to knowledge for readers, researchers and students and strengthens the role libraries play in the community.
The initiative reflects a vision that places books and libraries at the heart of Sharjah’s cultural development, treating investment in knowledge as an investment in people, and supporting writing, translation and publishing for every generation.
Sheikha Bodour: books matter most when they reach readers
Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, said the grant reflects a comprehensive cultural vision that links the growth of publishing with better access to knowledge. A book’s value, she noted, is realised when it reaches readers and has a lasting place in libraries, schools and cultural institutions.
She added that the grant gives direct support to publishers while allowing Sharjah’s libraries to refresh their collections with works from different cultures, languages and disciplines, strengthening their role in building knowledge-based communities.
Media contact
Aisha Alawadhi, Sharjah Government Media Bureau
aisha.alawadhi@sgmb.ae | +971 52 767 4447
