22 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ■ MARCH 2, 2020
T
he emirate of Sharjah, in the United Arab
Emirates, stars as the Market Focus at the 2020
London Book Fair. It is the start of an extraor-
dinary year for Sharjah, which will also be the
guest of honor country at the Bologna
Children’s Book Fair and the Guadalajara International Book
Fair. This series of professional events extends a yearlong run
of initiatives that began with Sharjah’s turn as UNESCO
World Book Capitol in 2019.
Why has this modest-size state within a relatively small
country invested so heavily in books, publishing, and
reading?
“When it comes to ‘why books?’ the answer is simple: the
direction and authority comes from the ruler of the emirate,
Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi,” says Faisal Al
Nabouda of the Sharjah Book Authority, who is responsible
for putting together the professional program at the London
Book Fair. “He believes that reading books offers the finest
conveyance of knowledge and wisdom available to man.” The
sheikh, a prolific author himself, will be present at the opening
ceremony of this year’s fair.
But why extend this support of books and publishing to the
international community? “The U.A.E. has more than 200
nationalities living in it and from the beginning has been a
very metropolitan place, with a lot of different communities,”
Al Nabouda says. “So it is natural that we share culture, not
only with our fellow Emiratis and the countries around the
Gulf but with all people from across the world.”
The U.A.E. has a special relationship with the U.K.—one
that dates back to the late 19th century, reinforced by the
discovery of oil in the emirates and a partnership with British
Petroleum, and that carries on to today. “Sharjah was thelocation of the first regional hub for British Airways when it
started flying to the region in the 1930s,” Al Nabouda says.
At the LBF, visitors will be treated to a stand organized by the
Sharjah Institute of Heritage, which will feature traditional
clothing and crafts, a display of maps showing the evolution of
the U.A.E., and samples of its cuisine, including tea and dates.
Numerous other activities, such as musical performances and
author readings, will take place at the LBF and throughout
London.
Twelve Emirati authors are attending the fair. These include
spoken-word poet Afra Atiq, who will be honored as author of
the day on Wednesday, March 11; poets Khulood Al Mu’alla
and Khalid Albudoor; short story writer Mohammad Al-Murr;
novelist Salha Obaid; fantasy writer Dubai Abulhoul; and
essayist and diplomat Omar Saif Ghobash. In addition, 60
books by Emirati authors have been translated exclusively for
the fair.
“It is our hope that the authors and the books we bring to the
fair will help spur interest in the Emirates and will foster more
buying and selling of rights,” Al Nabouda says.
As noted, the London Book Fair is just the kickoff for a big
year that will see the emirate featured at fairs across the world.
But for Al Nabouda and others from Sharjah, the highlight is
the Sharjah International Book Fair, which takes place in
November and has risen to the top tier of international events.
“When people come to Sharjah, they are amazed at what they
find,” Al Nabouda says. “There is the book fair, yes, but also
Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone, the Emirates Publishers
Association, our ongoing translation-grant program, and so
much more. All of these initiatives seek to empower and
support reading in the country—and now, as you can see in
London, all around the world.” ■