Sharjah Ruler inaugurates 44th Sharjah International Book Fair

Upon his arrival, His Highness was received by Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasimi, Head of the Sharjah Finance Department; Sheikh Khaled bin Abdullah bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Authority; Sheikh Dr Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi, Head of the Ruler’s Office; Sheikh Majid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Head of the Districts Affairs Department; Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments in Sharjah; and several senior officials, intellectuals and writers who are guests of the Sharjah International Book Fair.

His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi addressed attendees during the opening ceremony of the exhibition, extending a warm welcome to all present, particularly to the delegation from the Republic of Greece, which serves as the guest of honor for this edition of the exhibition. In his opening remarks, His Highness stated, “I express my gratitude to God Almighty and seek His forgiveness, as well as His guidance and strength to enable us to pursue initiatives that are beneficial and valuable to our esteemed Arab and Islamic nation.”

His Highness remarked on the cultural initiatives currently being undertaken in the Emirate of Sharjah, to which he has devoted his efforts and lifelong commitment. He emphasized the importance of promoting knowledge, literacy, and culture among the citizens of our nation, spanning both the eastern and western regions of the globe. In this context, it is pertinent to recognize a significant milestone: the establishment of Sharjah's first library in 1925. This year marks the centenary of this foundational institution, as Sharjah celebrates the 100th anniversary of its library's inception.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah has announced the successful completion of the initial phase of the Comprehensive Arabic Encyclopedia. During the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair, he stated, "Today, I am pleased to share significant cultural and scholarly news—the completion of the first phase of the Comprehensive Arabic Encyclopedia. This work, which we have entitled ‘The Comprehensive Arabic Encyclopedia of Sciences, Literature, Arts, and Figures,’ seeks to elucidate the sciences and literature, as well as all scholarly branches relevant to the Arabic language, Islamic studies, and the humanities. It encompasses biographies and accounts of all scholars, philosophers, writers, poets, linguists, interpreters, caliphs, kings, and other notable figures from the inception of Arab history through the trajectory of Islamic civilization and its intellectuals who have significantly contributed to the repository of human knowledge across various domains of expertise."

Concerning the details of the initial phase of the encyclopedia, His Highness stated: “We are grateful to God for the successful completion of the first phase of the encyclopedia. The working team, under the guidance of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, has finalized all aspects related to linguistic and legal sciences, resulting in a total of 44 volumes. Within these volumes, distinguished scholars have meticulously delineated the various sciences and specified the terminology pertinent to each discipline, including grammar, morphology, rhetoric, prosody, linguistics, lexicography, phonetics, and others. Additionally, the encyclopedia addresses legal sciences encompassing creed, Qur’anic studies, jurisprudence and its principles, the objectives of Sharia, as well as criticism and authentication in Hadith, Islamic economics, and other significant scholarly fields.”

His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed indicated the forthcoming phases of the encyclopedia and their anticipated completion dates, stating: “We are pleased to announce that next year, God willing, on this date, we shall reveal the completion of the second phase, which pertains to the humanities and features a selection of distinguished poets, linguists, interpreters, and scholars of hadith, scheduled for November 2026. Research efforts will persist until the conclusion of the third phase in November 2027. Furthermore, the fourth phase is expected to be finalized in November 2028. With divine assistance, we aim to complete the most extensive scientific and cultural encyclopedia, which will encompass an introduction to various sciences, arts, and terminologies, as well as biographies of esteemed figures in each discipline.”

His Highness concluded his address with the following statement: “We undertake these initiatives with a commitment to bridging the present of our nation with its historical legacy. It is imperative that we enlighten the contemporary generation regarding the contributions of their ancestors, including scholars, writers, poets, and cultural figures. Furthermore, we aim to provide scholars and individuals in the realm of culture with a comprehensive, documented scientific encyclopedia that serves as a valuable resource for learning and knowledge acquisition.”

His Highness the Ruler has bestowed the honor of "Cultural Personality of the Year" upon the esteemed Egyptian writer and playwright Mohamed Salmawy during the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair. This recognition underscores his significant literary achievements and his substantial contributions to the fields of theater, literature, and Arab cultural endeavors.

His Highness also honoured translator Dr Ondřej Ondřej Beránek, winner of the "Tarjuman" award for his translation of "Ibn Fadlan's Epistle" from Arabic into Czech, published by Academia Publishing House. Organized by the Sharjah Book Authority, the award is the largest of its kind globally, valued at AED 1.4 million, and is granted to the best translation of an original Arabic book into a foreign language.

During the opening ceremony, His Highness signed copies of his latest publication, "The Compendium of the Histories of the Arabian Peninsula and Persia 1622 CE to 1810 CE." This work meticulously documents a significant historical period in the region, as documented through recorded events in annals. The publication consists of 33 volumes in Arabic and 33 volumes in English, encompassing a total of 1,473 documents. Additionally, it is available on a memory stick for ease of access.

In the issuance of this work, His Highness drew upon a diverse array of documents sourced from several documentation centers. These include materials in English, Dutch, French, and Ottoman languages, as well as Portuguese documents referenced in His Highness's earlier publication, *The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman*. His Highness took meticulous care to arrange and classify the documents, a process that spanned approximately 40 years. Furthermore, he undertook the translation of these documents from their original languages into Arabic. The documents encompass a wide range of events that occurred in the Arabian Peninsula and Persia, derived from various sources. Additionally, the publication features a comprehensive guide at the conclusion of each volume, facilitating the search for specific information. Footnotes accompany the documents to provide further context and references.

Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, delivered a speech in which he announced that the Sharjah International Book Fair had ranked first among book fairs worldwide for the fifth year in a row, stressing that all of Sharjah’s cultural achievements, and the status the fair has attained, would not have been possible without the vision of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, who did not allow a session of the fair to be absent no matter how the circumstances changed.

Al Ameri stated, “His Highness initiated the narrative of Sharjah through literature, with the ink flowing as a testament to thought and humanity. Under the diligent guidance of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, Sharjah has successfully continued to develop this global cultural initiative, establishing itself as a hub for creators and a home for authors and publishers from across the globe. He noted that the current edition of the exhibition features over 2,500 publishers and exhibitors from 118 countries, representing an unparalleled global assembly. This gathering marks the largest representation of African publishers outside of Africa, alongside the most extensive participation from Asian publishers, particularly from India and the eastern regions of the continent. Additionally, it showcases the largest European presence outside of Europe, as well as a significant and ongoing representation of Arab publishers, who serve as ambassadors for the Arabic language worldwide.”

The CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority stated, “From Sharjah, we remain committed to ensuring that the book continues to be cherished and esteemed, and that culture serves as a bridge of love among peoples.” He highlighted the impressive level of global participation at the recently concluded Publishers Conference, noting, “Yesterday, we successfully completed the Publishers Conference, which convened 1,599 publishers from 116 countries. Throughout the course of two days, these participants engaged in 3,321 meetings over 14 working hours.”

In his address regarding the “Cultural Personality of the Year,” the esteemed writer Mohamed Salmawy remarked, “Sharjah has honored me, along with all Arab intellectuals, by recognizing the significance of literature through its longstanding celebration of thought and knowledge, which has spanned over four decades. The emirate has further demonstrated its commitment to our cultural heritage by establishing museums, conducting exhibitions, and organizing conferences and seminars that highlight both our ancient legacy and our contemporary artistic endeavors. It has embraced culture in a profound way, thereby justifiably achieving its status as one of the foremost centers of cultural influence within our Arab homeland.”

Salmawy stated, "I regard our gathering here at the Sharjah International Book Fair as a renewed call to pursue our path—one rooted in faith in culture and thought, conveyed through literature and the written word. This path embodies a belief in the potential of the Arab individual across all Arab nations, extending from Egypt to the Emirates, from Yemen to Morocco, and from Syria to Somalia. It is the individual who possesses the capacity to rejuvenate his nation by reclaiming his awareness of self, history, and culture. I envision our assembly as an affirmation of the critical role of the Arab intellectual, who should not merely serve as an observer of his time but as an influential participant and a steward of enlightenment in the face of the challenges sought to be imposed upon us."

During the 44th edition of the exhibition, Jason Fotilas, the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Hellenic Republic (Greece), delivered the guest of honor address, conveying his profound appreciation and gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. He remarked, “The historical ties between Greece and the Arab world span several centuries. Throughout this period, our civilizations have encountered one another, exchanging inspiration through the realms of ideas, arts, and sciences, as well as philosophy, poetry, and creative imagination. These interactions have persisted through time and continue to flourish in our mutual reverence for heritage and our collective vision for the future. The friendship between our two nations is grounded in mutual respect and understanding and is exemplified today through the distinguished cooperation between our leaderships and governments—a cooperation that becomes increasingly robust and well-established with each passing year.”

Furthermore, he stated, “Greece embraces this honor with a significant sense of responsibility, dedicated to delivering a cultural program that aligns with the stature of this magnificent exhibition and the creativity that reflects a prominent facet of our national culture. We carry forth the spirit of Greek literature and thought, from antiquity to the present, remaining open to dialogue and attentive to the global community.” He concluded by emphasizing that culture represents the most direct pathway between individuals, transcending borders and overcoming barriers of language or belief.

Following the opening ceremony, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah conducted a tour of the exhibition halls, where he received a comprehensive briefing from Sheikha Bodour regarding the number of participating pavilions, institutions, organizations, and publishing houses, as well as the offerings of the current session, which spans a duration of 12 days.

His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed commenced his tour by visiting the pavilion of Greece, designated as the guest of honor for this year’s exhibition. He received an in-depth explanation of the pavilion's contributions during this session and gained insights into the prominent activities and events planned in conjunction with Greece's honored status at the exhibition.

His Highness visited the pavilions of several cultural institutions, participating entities, and publishing houses. During his visit, His Highness engaged with representatives at the Ministry of Culture, as well as the Sharjah Identity pavilion, which underscores the significance of identity in enhancing the emirate’s image and promoting it across various platforms. His Highness also toured the pavilion of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, which is responsible for covering all events of the exhibition through its diverse channels, radio stations, and digital platforms. Additionally, His Highness explored the Sharjah Media City “Shams” pavilion, which offers a range of services tailored to support entrepreneurs and creators.

His Highness also visited the pavilion of the Emirates Publishers Association to gain insights into the association’s initiatives aimed at supporting and encouraging Emirati publishers, as well as the services it offers to facilitate publishers’ access to global markets. Additionally, His Highness attended the pavilion of the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund, where he received a comprehensive overview of its objectives to promote and sustain the publishing industry within the United Arab Emirates.

His Highness visited the House of Wisdom pavilion, where he explored its exhibits, which feature rare documents, manuscripts, and significant publications. Additionally, His Highness examined the exhibits and publications showcased by the pavilions of the Sharjah Police, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center, the Islamic Forum, the United Arab Emirates University, and Al Qasimia University.

His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed was provided with an overview of the offerings presented by the Big Heart Foundation pavilion, including information on its humanitarian initiatives, their impact, and methods for implementation. Additionally, insights were shared regarding the services available at the Emirates Copyright Management Association pavilion. The discussion also encompassed the contributions and resources provided by various entities, including the pavilions of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, the National Council for Culture and Arts in Kuwait, the National Library and Archives, the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, the Egyptian General Book Authority, the Ibn Arabi Foundation for Research and Publishing, the Emirates Writers Union, and the Sharjah Institute for Heritage.

His Highness visited the Al Qasimi Publications pavilion, which prominently features His Highness’s literary works. During this visit, he signed a copy of his most recent publication, titled “The Compendium of the Histories of the Arabian Peninsula and Persia 1622 CE to 1810 CE.” Additionally, His Highness was informed about the exhibits presented by the Sharjah Arabic Language Academy, highlighting its most significant scientific and linguistic initiatives.