Sheikh Sultan and Sheikha Bodour explore the currents of the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair

The Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority walk among three thousand exhibitors from 126 countries, witnessing initiatives that bridge heritage, learning and literary talent.

The pages turn slowly through Expo Centre Sharjah this November, and with them moves the intellectual life of the Emirates. H.H. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, walked the halls of the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair on Wednesday morning, moving through pavilions that speak to the region’s commitment to knowledge, creativity and cultural exchange.

The fair, which runs from 4th to 15th November, has gathered 3,212 publishers and exhibitors from 126 countries into a sprawling conversation about literature, thought and scholarship. More than 1.7 million titles are displayed across the halls, in many languages and disciplines, from children’s books to scientific works, from contemporary fiction to timeless heritage texts.

Their Highnesses began at the pavilion of the Sultanate of Oman, this year’s Guest of Honour, where they received detailed briefings on cultural and heritage publications that draw from Omani traditions and customs, as well as learning of activities the sultanate will stage throughout the fair’s run.

The tour revealed the breadth of what the book fair has become: not merely a marketplace for publishers, but a platform for institutional vision. Sharjah Police presented “Writer of the Future”, an initiative searching for literary talent among young people through a training programme that teaches purposeful storytelling and creative writing while cultivating positive values. The initiative has already produced three winning stories.

Their Highnesses also viewed the “Smart Adaptive Learning” platform, which employs artificial intelligence to analyse student performance, recognise individual strengths and set personalized lessons, exercises and tests accordingly. Such technology mirrors the emirate’s broader intellectual ambitions: to blend heritage and innovation, the written word and digital futures.

The pavilions of government bodies and cultural institutions formed much of their route, including the Ministry of Culture, the National Media Authority, the Sharjah Identity platform and the House of Wisdom. They visited the American University of Sharjah and the University of Sharjah, institutions through which Sharjah continues to advance professional and scholarly excellence.

The Judicial Council pavilion held particular significance. Among its offerings was an edition of the personal status law in Braille, created for blind law students, alongside recent publications from the Sharjah Institute for Judicial Sciences and knowledge projects such as “Athar”. This work embodies a commitment to making legal knowledge accessible to all.

International presence was equally evident. The pavilions of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Kuwait sat alongside those of local publishers, the Emirates Writers’ Union and the Emirates Council for Books for Young People, suggesting how the fair has become a gathering place not only for the Emirati literary world but for the wider Gulf and Arab regions.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The 45th Sharjah International Book Fair exemplifies the UAE’s dedication to positioning itself as a centre for knowledge, creativity and intellectual exchange. Through its scale – more than three thousand exhibitors spanning 126 countries – the fair demonstrates how the Emirates continues to attract global cultural participation and investment. For Abu Dhabi, the fair reinforces a shared regional vision in which books, learning initiatives and literary talent development remain central to national identity and progress.

The initiatives on display, from Sharjah Police’s “Writer of the Future” to artificial intelligence driven learning platforms, suggest how the Emirates is integrating heritage and tradition with technological innovation. This approach aligns with the broader values that guide Abu Dhabi’s own cultural and educational development, where supporting emerging voices and making knowledge accessible remain essential priorities for the future.

Source: WAM