Three Arab Voices Converge on the Power of Storytelling at Sharjah’s Book Fair

As the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair opens its doors, a Lebanese theatre luminary, Kuwaiti literary scholar and Emirati dramatic arts visionary gather to probe the question that sits at the heart of all creative work: who truly owns a story?

The mechanics of storytelling remain endlessly mysterious. A tale begins in one mind, transforms through another’s interpretation, and emerges altered in performance or on the page. At the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair, three figures whose careers have turned on precisely this question will explore the intricate ownership of narrative and the collaboration between writer and artist.

Rafiq Ali Ahmad, the Lebanese actor, playwright and theatre director, has built his reputation on monodrama, a form that places the storyteller at its absolute centre. His work has traversed festivals from Carthage to Cannes, from Jerash to Fujairah, whilst his plays including Al Jaras, Al Miftah and Zawarib have achieved stagings across the Arab world and beyond. In 2025, his achievements earned him the Murex d’Or award, cementing his standing as a leading voice in contemporary Arab theatre.

Dr Alia Shuaib brings a dual perspective to the conversation. The Kuwaiti writer and visual artist holds doctoral credentials from the University of Birmingham and once taught moral philosophy at Kuwait University. Her literary works, from Imra’a La Tatazawaj Al Bahr through to the novels Tayba and Shaqqat Al Jabriya, investigate ethics, identity and the corporeal form. Yet her practice extends equally to the visual realm, with exhibitions mounted across Kuwait, Lebanon, Tunisia, France, Egypt and the United Kingdom.

Completing the trio is Dr Habib Ghuloom, an Emirati actor, director and academic whose scholarly credentials span from Kuwait’s Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts through Cairo’s Academy of Arts to the University of Manchester, where he earned his doctorate in Dramatic Literature. His influence extends across the institutional landscape: he serves as Cultural Adviser and board trustee to the Sharjah Performing Arts Academy, sits on the Arab Theatre Authority, and helped establish Ras Al Khaimah National Theatre.

The session, titled ‘Who Owns the Story?’, takes place on Thursday, November 5 at 7:15 pm in the Intellectual Hall at Expo Centre Sharjah. It forms part of the fair’s ‘Art & Literature’ programme, a constellation of discussions and presentations designed to illuminate how creative practice across disciplines contributes to global culture.

This year’s fair, themed ‘Made of Stories’, runs from November 4 to 15 and welcomes approximately 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries. With Oman as Guest of Honour, the fair will host 1,500 cultural and artistic events featuring 106 writers and creative figures from 25 countries, alongside professional programmes for publishers and specialised conferences, as well as activities designed for children and families.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The gathering of these three Arab creative voices at Sharjah’s signature book fair speaks to the broader cultural renaissance flourishing across the Emirates. As the region continues its evolution as a hub for artistic dialogue and intellectual exchange, events such as this demonstrate the interconnected nature of the Arab creative landscape and its position within global cultural conversations.

For Abu Dhabi, the prominence of such platforms reinforces the Emirates’ commitment to fostering the arts and literature as essential pillars of society. The presence of Emirati figures of Dr Ghuloom’s calibre, alongside regional and international peers, illustrates how the nation’s cultural institutions have become meeting grounds where questions of artistic ownership, authorship and interpretation are explored with rigour and sophistication.

Source: WAM