His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has directed the allocation of AED 4.5 million to enhance public and government libraries across the emirate with the latest publications from publishers participating in the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF). This year’s edition gathers 2,350 publishers and exhibitors from 118 countries, showcasing a wide range of Arabic and international titles spanning literature, science, and various fields of knowledge.

This initiative reflects His Highness’s ongoing commitment to advancing the publishing industry and ensuring that readers, researchers, and students in Sharjah and the UAE have access to the most recent and influential works. It also underscores the central role of libraries in Sharjah’s cultural vision and its human-centric approach to progress, strengthening the emirate’s reputation as a global capital of knowledge and culture.

Libraries are living archives of human thought

Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, stated that the Ruler’s generous initiative reflects his deep belief in the transformative power of libraries as institutions of enlightenment that nurture generations and drive knowledge-based development. “Libraries are living archives of human thought and bridges that connect cultures and civilisations,” Her Highness said. “This grant continues His Highness’s lifelong support for the publishing sector, empowering publishers to sustain their creative contributions and enriching the region’s cultural and intellectual landscape.”