The Sharjah International Book Fair 2021

It is back. And after millennia I too was excited to visit a book fair. Like a November flower, the Sharjah International Book Fair has bloomed this year too.

Caressing through endless stacks of books, flipping through some of them, I did feel like a student once again. Along with my roommates John and Edwin, we entered the Expo Centre by 6.00 PM local time on Friday. It took me a while to compose myself to begin the sweet stroll absorbing the essence from stall after stall. In the beginning, seldom did we know even by 10.30 PM we would still have more than half the stalls to visit. Alas! We had to drag ourselves out of the hall at that point.

Nevertheless, the hours we spent at the Sharjah International Book Fair have certainly enriched us in multiple ways. Certainly, the experience of all the visitors would be the same.

40th iteration

Year after year, the Sharjah Emirate has been hosting the Sharjah International Book Fair. The 40^th edition of this year's event started on November 3^rd and will conclude on the 13^th.

What to witness at the Book Fair?

• Over 1500 local and international publishers.
• Over 1.5 million books on display and sale.
• Books in more than 200 languages.
• Publishers from around 80 countries.
• Hundreds of daily activities.
• Presence of renowned authors.

The Sharjah International Book Fair this year is held under the theme, ‘There is always a right book'. The chairman of the Sharjah Book Authority, Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri has said “the event is not only about attending literary discussions or buying books. The fair emphasizes the importance of reading as a daily habit and nurtures an everlasting relationship between individuals and books.” And we could see people from all walks and age groups buzzing around the hall.

Being one of the largest book fairs in the world, you could see visitors from across the continents. Literary events by distinguished personalities from the respective fields further enhance your time at The Sharjah International Book Fair.

Where and when

For those who are in UAE, reaching the Expo Centre in Sharjah is no big deal. As for others, Sharjah is one of the prominent Emirates in the country. There is an international airport in the Emirate. And the Expo Centre where The Sharjah International Book Fair is held is easily accessible by road.

Timings:

On Fridays – 16: 00 – 23:00

Other days – 10:00 – 22:00

Strolling around for hours surely means awakening your hunger pangs. Never mind. Organizers have been thoughtful in that aspect. There are several mini food outlets that provide delicious snacks and drinks. 

Points to note

• Entry is free.
• You need to register yourself as a visitor on website of The Sharjah International Book Fair to enter.
• In spite of the large parking slots, finding a spot to park can be tough by evenings/weekends.
• Check the website to see if your favorite author or speaker is visiting on the day of your visit.
• Wear the mask.

Are you in UAE? Do you love books? Then, never miss the event.