In response to the directive of Sharjah’s wise leadership to instill a love of reading in the emirate, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA)  released two new books at the ongoing Sharjah International Book Fair 2019, which is being held under the theme ‘Open Books, Open Minds,’ to celebrate the emirate’s title as ‘World Book Capital for 2019.’ SCTDA’s participation in the third largest book fair in the world falls in line with its endeavors to further develop the tourism sector, as well as contribute to promoting knowledge and appreciation for culture and heritage across the emirate.

The first book titled ‘Sharjah, the Heart of Culture,’ talks about the emirate’s rich heritage, culture and sheds light on its vision and strategies to educate the younger generation about local traditions. It also highlights the pivotal role played by the emirate of Sharjah in promoting cultural knowledge, science, and literature in the country. The second book, titled ‘Visitors from Space,’ has been published in collaboration with Kalimat Publishing. The comic book explores various aspects of Sharjah, including trivia, places to see, and destinations to visit for children to understand. It will become a part of the tourism education and awareness campaign that has been launched to engage the local community and acquaint it with the emirate’s famous landmarks in a fun-filled way.

H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said: “Our participation in the 38^th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair reflects our commitment to accelerating the cultural movement in Sharjah. The emirate is steadily moving forward towards its aim to achieve a global leadership, in line with the vision and directives of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. H.H. has laid the foundation for a cultural and intellectual revival in the emirate by sparking the love of reading within the local community. The launch of our two books follows UNESCO’s awarding of World Book Capital for 2019 title to Sharjah. The achievement certainly reaffirms Sharjah’s leading position in the global cultural landscape. We are celebrating the emirate’s latest recognition, which reflects its rich Arab culture and Islamic heritage, in cooperation with all local government bodies.”

“The two new books will help promote the emirate’s tourist attractions in line with our goal to further strengthen local tourism, which is a fundamental aspect of Sharjah’s economic diversification strategy. They will also help us move closer to our target of attracting 10 million visitors to the emirate by 2021. The books elaborate on the emirate’s competitive advantages and attractions that make it the preferred destination for tourists, locally and globally. We remain keen to actively participate in major events hosted and organized in Sharjah, including the Sharjah International Book Fair, as it is an important interactive platform designed to establish a culture of reading not only in the UAE, but also the Arab region, and the rest of the world,” he added.

The 38^th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair kicked off on October 30, 2019, and will run until November 9, 2019, at the Sharjah Expo Center. The Fair features the works of Nobel Prize winning authors; Oscar-winning film directors, and representatives of 2,000 publishing houses from 81 Arab and foreign countries. Furthermore, the latest edition of the Fair includes 350 events featuring 90 guests from 28 countries and 409 activities under the Children’s Program featuring 28 guests from 13 countries. The exhibition will also host 88 theatrical performances led by 17 guests from eight Arab and international countries, in addition to other major activities being held for the first time this year, such as ‘Conceptual Photography,’ theatrical performances, ‘3D Printing Exhibition,’ and ‘Mechatronics Laboratory.’