Sharjah expands ‘Culture Resident’ project

The new phase, launched as an extension of the project introduced at the end of 2025, aims to encourage people to keep books close beyond libraries, exhibitions and seasonal events and to make reading part of everyday routines.

According to the Menassah Distribution Company, the newly released items are grouped into two main categories. The first, the Reading Club, is aimed at readers themselves and includes products connected to reading habits and book culture, designed to reflect personal interest in books and encourage regular engagement.

The second category focuses on Emirati heritage and culture. Its designs and messages draw on local identity and tradition while also supporting the wider presence of Emirati books among different segments of society.

Organisers say the idea behind the project is simple: culture should not be limited to formal spaces. Instead, books and reading should appear naturally in daily life, helping to sustain interest in knowledge over time.

The ‘Sharjah Culture Resident’ project was launched by Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, founder and honorary president of the Emirates Publishers Association. It seeks to strengthen reading as a social value, encourage younger generations to stay connected to books, and present Sharjah as a place where culture is lived rather than observed.

Further stages of the project are planned, with additional categories to be introduced and presented across contemporary locations in the emirate that combine modern settings with Sharjah’s cultural character.