The 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) will be held from November 5 to 16 at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme Between You and a Book. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the event will bring together 2,350 publishers and exhibitors from 118 countries.
The 2025 edition will present more than 1,200 events and activities with 250 guests representing 66 countries. Ten nations, including Iceland, Jamaica, Nigeria, Mali, Chad, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea, Senegal and Vietnam, will join the fair for the first time.
Greece will be the Guest of Honour, represented by 70 participants and a national pavilion showcasing 600 titles from 58 publishers. The program will feature literary discussions, art exhibitions and performances that highlight the country’s cultural traditions and contemporary creativity.
H.E. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, said the fair’s theme captures the deeply personal connection between readers and books, reflecting the transformative power of the written word. He added that SIBF continues to reflect the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi and the leadership of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi in advancing Sharjah’s global cultural role.
H.E. Panagiotis Kougiou, Chargé d'Affaires of the Greek Embassy in the UAE, said Greece’s participation would deepen cultural exchange with the UAE through a diverse program celebrating the Greek language, literature and arts.
Sharjah Broadcasting Authority (SBA) will deliver comprehensive media coverage of the fair, with live television and radio broadcasts across its networks. The coverage will include live segments from Expo Centre Sharjah, dedicated programming on Sharjah TV and radio channels and daily updates through digital platforms.
H.E. Mohamed Al Amimi, General Manager of e& UAE, said the company’s continued partnership as the event’s official sponsor reflects its commitment to supporting culture and knowledge as essential pillars of social development.
According to General Coordinator Khoula Al Mujaini, this year’s theme invites visitors to rediscover their personal relationship with books and to reflect on how reading shapes imagination and understanding.
Mansour Al Hassani, Director of Publishing Services at SBA, said the fair continues to strengthen the publishing sector by connecting professionals from around the world through workshops, training sessions, and conferences focused on innovation, translation rights and digital transformation.
The cultural program will feature more than 300 sessions led by 158 Arab and international speakers from 40 countries, including 66 international, 62 Arab and 30 Emirati participants. Writers such as Mohammed Suleiman Abdulmalik, Abdulwahab Al-Refaie, Dr. Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, Sangeeta Mehta and Lisa Dillman will lead specialised workshops on writing, editing, and creative disciplines.
This year’s edition will also introduce new interactive platforms: the Pop-Up Academy, featuring sessions with figures from literature, media and technology; the UK’s Poetry Pharmacy, offering personalised poetry “prescriptions” in Arabic and English; and the Podcast Station, which will host live recordings of Arabic shows including Asmar from Saudi Arabia, Karakpodcast from Oman and Kirsi Al Ithnayn from the UAE.
The fair’s schedule also includes 85 performances from 12 countries, the Thriller Festival from November 8–11, the Cookery Corner with 15 chefs from 14 countries and a wide range of cultural, literary and professional events designed to engage readers, authors and publishers alike.
SIBF 2025 is supported by several partners, such as e& (Official Partner), Arada (Development Partner), Invest Bank and Bank of Sharjah (Banking Partners), Sharjah Broadcasting Authority (Media Partner), Expo Centre Sharjah and Sharjah Airport (Strategic Partners), Trends (Knowledge Partner) and Central Finance (Fintech Partner).