Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) 2019 set a Guinness World Record last night, successfully hosting the world’s largest simultaneous book signing ceremony with 1,502 authors from the UAE and beyond signing their own books.

Guinness World Records Official present at the event verified and confirmed the number and endorsed the record, which beat the previous record set by 1,423 authors in Turkey. On Thursday evening at 8.30pm, the World Record was broken by Sharjah International Book Fair, placing Sharjah and the fair, in the Guinness World Record in the category of ‘most authors signing their own book simultaneously in one location’.

Amid thousands of fair visitors cheering and applauding the landmark accomplishment, Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) received the Guinness World Record certificate the from organisation’s representatives.

The signing ceremony commenced with a message from His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, delivered by HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), “I am honoured to convey the greetings and best wishes of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to all participating authors. This event is another step forward for Sharjah in the Arab and global cultural arena – an outstanding intellectual and creative achievement to be remembered as a fruit of Sharjah’s efforts for more than 40 years promoting a love of books and reading. Sharjah World Book Capital 2019 wishes you all success. With the blessings of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, let’s begin the world’s largest book signing ceremony.”

Upon receiving the record certificate from Guinness World Records official adjudicator, Al Ameri, said, “We thank all the authors, publishers and volunteers for enabling us to attain this world record, which is an Emirati achievement that will go down in history. This achievement is yet another endorsement of the 40-year efforts of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in placing books, culture and knowledge at the heart of our society. This feat is very special as it comes during a year when Sharjah is celebrating the highest recognition of culture worldwide, as UNESCO World Book Capital 2019.”

The huge halls SIBF 2019 were ablaze with excitement as, snaking its way from one end of the enormous Sharjah Expo Centre to the other, up and down isles and corridors, were row among row of seats and tables, as organisers prepared for a record-breaking simultaneous book signing.