The 44th Sharjah International Book Fair concluded on Sunday (November 16th), reaffirming its stature as one of the world’s largest literary events and also deepening its long-standing cultural connection with Kerala and the Malayalam-reading world. What began in 1982 as a modest initiative supported personally by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi has evolved into a global gathering that brings together hundreds of thousands of visitors, thousands of exhibitors, and voices from more than 100 countries.
Managed by the Sharjah Book Authority, the fair continues to anchor Sharjah’s identity as a city devoted to books, scholarship and cultural exchange.
A ruler’s vision shaping global culture
The fair’s journey is inseparable from Sheikh Sultan’s commitment to history, learning and accessibility. When he inaugurated the first edition, he imagined a cultural platform where knowledge would be available to everyone. His works, many translated into Malayalam, remain symbolic of Sharjah’s enduring literary bridge with Kerala.
That commitment became especially evident during moments of global disruption. In 2020, as publishers struggled during the pandemic, Sheikh Sultan allocated Dh10 million to purchase books from more than 2,000 exhibitors and waived all stand-rental fees — a lifeline for an industry in distress. His continued initiatives, including millions of dirhams invested in new library acquisitions and fee waivers for publishers from hardship-hit regions, ensure that SIBF remains a protective and resilient space for global publishing.
These actions, carried forward year after year, have made the fair not only an exhibition space but also a cultural sanctuary for publishers from around the world.
Sheikha Bodour’s leadership and expanding global networks
Under the guidance of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, the fair has strengthened its global partnerships and professional ecosystem. Translation grants, sustainability frameworks, and the Sharjah Publishers Conference have helped position the emirate as a major centre for rights trading and cross-cultural collaboration.
Her leadership has amplified Sharjah’s voice in global publishing circles and supported the emergence of new writers, translators and independent publishers.
A Fair marked by scale, diversity and new voices
The 44th edition reflected the diversity that defines the fair. Exhibitors from across continents presented millions of titles, while national pavilions offered cultural showcases that drew readers into conversations across languages and traditions.
In recent years, the fair has consistently witnessed hundreds of book launches each edition — a testament to its growing appeal as a platform for debut authors as well as established voices. The fair continues to be a place where new narratives gain global attention.
India, Kerala and Malayalam: a literary relationship that keeps growing
India’s presence at SIBF remains strong, with publishers representing many states and languages. Among them, Kerala maintains a special place — strengthened by the UAE’s large Malayali population and the fair’s decades-long openness to regional literature.
Malayalam publishing has shown remarkable growth at SIBF. In 2018, just 55 Malayalam titles were launched. Since then, the number has expanded into the hundreds annually, often surpassing the pace of new Malayalam releases within Kerala. In recent editions, this momentum has included a notable rise in women writers, multiple debut authors across genres, and even elderly expatriate writers releasing their first books — representing a diversity rarely seen elsewhere.
These developments reflect SIBF’s growing influence on Malayalam literature. Kerala produces around 30,000 Malayalam titles every decade, and within this landscape, Sharjah has emerged as an international launchpad. Publishers increasingly choose SIBF to unveil new authors, citing the fair’s multicultural readership, strong media attention, and the cultural ecosystem cultivated by Sheikh Sultan.
India’s pavilion remains one of the most active at the fair, with Malayalam showcased alongside Tamil, Hindi, Urdu and other major Indian languages — placing regional works in conversation with global literature.
A platform opening doors for first-time writers
For emerging Malayalam writers — especially those based in the Gulf — SIBF offers an unmatched pathway into publishing. Three factors continue to shape this trend:
The Writers’ Forum, author stages and community events provide visibility that new writers often find difficult to achieve in Kerala’s crowded literary scene.
Robust publishing infrastructure:
Sharjah Publishing City, grants and professional programs help writers navigate the publishing journey with greater support and fewer barriers.
A highly engaged readership:
The Gulf’s large Malayali community remains an enthusiastic audience for stories rooted in expatriate life, identity, nostalgia and personal experiences. Media coverage in both the Gulf and Kerala amplifies these voices.
Together, these elements have democratized Malayalam publishing in the region. The continued surge in launches — observed across successive editions — demonstrates how deeply the Malayalam segment is now woven into the fair’s identity.
Sharjah and Kerala: A literary bond sustained by mutual respect
The cultural relationship between Sharjah and Kerala has strengthened over the decades. Sheikh Sultan’s 2017 visit to Kerala, marked by high-level meetings and literary interactions, reflected the depth of this engagement. The ongoing translation of his works into Malayalam and Sharjah’s support for Malayali cultural organisations underscore a partnership rooted in shared values of language, learning and heritage.
A global fair, and a second home for Malayalam literature
As the 44th edition comes to a close, the Sharjah International Book Fair stands not only as a global literary gathering but also as a nurturing space for Malayalam literature — a place where expatriate voices find opportunities, new writers begin their journeys, and cultural ties between Sharjah and Kerala continue to grow.
Under Sheikh Sultan’s vision and Sheikha Bodour’s leadership, SIBF remains a powerful catalyst for global literary exchange. For Malayalam writers and readers, it has become a second literary home — a place where stories from the Gulf find their wings and join the world.
(Dr. K.T. Abdurabb is a UAE-based journalist and writer. Holding a PhD in Media Studies, he writes on India–UAE relations and the cultural impact of Malayalam in the Emirates, with a focus on literature, media, and the expatriate experience)