Shaikh Sultan inaugurates Sharjah International Book Fair

Sharjah - His Highness Dr. Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah today inaugurated the 34th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF).

It will be held at Sharjah Expo Centre until November 4.
During the opening ceremony, Dr. Shaikh Sultan accompanied by Prince Khalid Al Faisal, Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, and Governor of Makkah Province. The event was also attended by top government officials, as well as diplomats, intellectuals and cultural figures.
Addressing the ceremony Dr. Shaikh Sultan praised the culture personality, Prince Khalid Al Faisal, who is also known as the Poet Prince, for his great deal contribution to furthering cultural, artistic and educational understanding. "This SIBF  has been graced by big names in the literary world, specially by Prince Khalid Al Faisal."
He also praised Shaikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, founder and CEO of Kalimat Group, and Honorary President of the Emirates Publishers Association, for successfully hosting the two-day 3rd Arab Publishers Association Conference (APAC) which concluded on Tuesday.
"Shaikha Bodour sat with me and shared her concern that some of the guests might not attend the (APAC) due to the difficult faced while entering the venue. Later, I ordered the concerned officials to allow them to enter and clear the hurdles."
He added, "Today, books are the light of beacon against ignorance, leading us to faith and certainty. But there are also some distractions. Thus, we cannot reject all the books or accept all the books. That is why we set up the Sharjah Books Authority to check the contents before releasing the books and to pursue the publishers if any changes need to be made or mistakes should be corrected."
He said that a series of seminars will be conducted for the next 10 days, parallel to the book fair, where Arab intellectuals who have accepted the invitation will deliberate on various issues.
SIBF Director Ahmed Al Amiri said that SIBF reflects the vision of Shaikh Sultan and the UAE on the whole. "Books are for peaceful co-existence especially at a time when mind is burdened by the scores of events taking place across the world."
Prince Khalid Al Faisal praised the initiatives taken by Shaikh Sultan for preserving and promoting Arab culture. He gave Shaikh Sultan the title "Sultan of Culture" and said that Sharjah sparks hope.
Prince Khalid Al Faisal, was honoured during the ceremony  as the "Cultural Personality of the Year in recognition of his cultural, charitable and humanitarian contributions, and his constant pursuit of promoting the values of tolerance and moderation by encouraging intercultural dialogue and interaction.