His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the 43rd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) on Wednesday morning, November 6, 2024. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), SIBF 2024, held under the theme “It Starts with a Book”, runs from November 6 to 17, at Expo Centre Sharjah.
Upon his arrival, the Ruler of Sharjah was warmly received by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler; Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA); Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Ruler’s Office; Sheikh Khalid bin Isam bin Saqer Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Department; Sheikh Majid bin Sultan bin Saqer Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Districts Affairs Department; Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture and Youth; Sheikha Nawar Al Qasimi, Director of the Sharjah Art Foundation; Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office; along with top officials, intellectuals, and authors.
In his opening speech, the Ruler of Sharjah emphasized efforts to promote the Arabic language, its literature, sciences, and history, highlighting the crucial role of the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language in this mission. He reaffirmed the commitment to advancing knowledge, spreading cultural awareness, and strengthening the global presence of the Arabic language.
Dr. Sheikh Sultan extended a warm welcome to the international audience, saying: “We welcome you to the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair. We thank our distinguished guests, including scholars, intellectuals, writers, publishers and the media, for their exceptional presence, which stands as a testament to the enduring strength of our culture.”
His Highness expressed his joy at this remarkable occasion, which celebrates the book at the highest level, showcasing the finest in translated works, events, and an unprecedented cultural achievement represented by the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language. He highlighted how this enhances the love for books and strengthens the emirate’s deep connection to them, demonstrating a commitment to achieving its goals.
“Today, we celebrate two cherished events. First, the Sharjah International Book Fair itself – for books are the key to nations’ success, advancement, and development. In Sharjah, we value and honour them and those who champion them, knowing they are the architects of societies and generations, our finest companions and friends. As Al Mutanabbi famously said, ‘The dearest place in the world is the saddle of a galloping horse, and the best companion in life is a book.’ Our second joy is the completion of the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language, a monumental scholarly achievement realised by a team of over 700 contributors, including writers, editors, reviewers, managers, and production staff. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to this significant cultural endeavour,” the Ruler of Sharjah said.
He outlined the vision behind the corpus, a long-held aspiration for the Arab world, and detailed his leadership over many years in bringing this project to fruition. The Sharjah Ruler noted that the corpus preserves an invaluable linguistic and cultural heritage, paving the way for further projects that honour Arabic as a great and enduring language. “The corpus has been a personal dream, founded on my belief that preserving the language is also preserving its people, history, literature, and authentic identity. Over seven continuous years, supporters of the Arabic language worked tirelessly on this project, collecting linguistic resources, preserving the poetry of the past, documenting language rules, and recording cultural stories. May Allah reward them for their efforts, as the dictionary is now complete in 127 volumes.”
The Ruler of Sharjah elaborated on the dictionary’s comprehensive scope, which encompasses classical Arabic poetry, the language of the Holy Quran and Hadith, as well as modern-day language used in media and social discourse.
His Highness assured that Sharjah remains steadfast in its commitment to cultural and knowledge projects that promote and advance the Arabic language: “The Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language represents a monumental achievement in preserving our linguistic heritage, from classical vocabulary and poetry to contemporary linguistic references. We share this accomplishment not as a point of rest, but to reaffirm our unwavering dedication to the ongoing journey of knowledge, the spread of Arab culture, and the empowerment of the Arabic language worldwide.”
His Highness said: “I bring good news to the Arab world with the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language, and I am pleased to announce the launch of a new scholarly project, the Comprehensive Arabic Encyclopedia. This ambitious initiative will cover sciences, literature, arts, and notable figures, reconnecting the Arab world with its rich legacy of scientific, artistic, and literary achievements, as well as the lives of its great scholars, jurists, philosophers, writers, poets, and many others. It will bridge the present with the Arab world’s illustrious past.”
In conclusion, His Highness addressed scholars, cultural advocates, and knowledge seekers, affirming the continuation of major scholarly projects and a bright future for the Arabic language: “To my children: the future is rich with major scholarly projects, and I am confident that the future of Arabic is bright and blessed. The Arabic language will endure as long as life continues, safeguarded by the preservation of the Holy Quran.”
The Sharjah Ruler felicitated renowned Algerian author and novelist Ahlam Mosteghanemi, the ‘Cultural Personality of the Year’ for the 43rd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF). He also paid tribute to the heads of Arabic language academies who contributed to the completion of the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language, alongside Al Qasimi Publications, which undertook the execution, printing, and presentation of the complete volumes, in addition to taking commemorative pictures.
Following the opening ceremony, the Ruler of Sharjah signed copies of the completed Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language, the first-of-its-kind project to chronicle 17 centuries of the development of the Arabic language in 127 volumes, and honoured members of the team who worked tirelessly to bring the project to fruition. The Sharjah Ruler inscribed on the copy, “With God’s grace, the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language project has been completed.”
The fair began with the screening of a short film cantered around the SIBF theme, “It Starts with a Book.” The film captivated the audience with its compelling imagery and storytelling, illustrating the endless journeys of discovery, exchange, and progress that are fuelled by books.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and the attendees witnessed a visual presentation on the “HistoricalCorpus of the Arabic Language” project, which highlighted the journey of completing the dictionary throughout history. The presentation underscored the vision and efforts of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in bringing this cultural achievement to fruition. It emphasized the significant cultural and linguistic value the project holds for the Arabic language and the cultural heritage of the Arab nation. Additionally, it highlighted the project’s vital role in preserving and documenting this heritage for future generations.
Following the opening ceremony, The Ruler of Sharjah toured SIBF accompanied and briefed by Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA.
On the first leg of his tour, Sheikh Sultan visited Morocco’s Guest of Honour pavilion, where he was briefed on the various programmes and activities designed to introduce visitors to Moroccan culture.
He then explored the pavilions of several Sharjah-based entities, gaining insight into their contributions to the cultural landscape and their support for the literary, cultural, and scientific endeavours of Emirati and Arab authors and intellectuals. The Ruler of Sharjah also visited numerous pavilions showcasing the latest works from local and Arab publishers across a wide range of knowledge, culture, and scientific domains.
In its 43rd edition this year, the Sharjah International Book Fair hosts 2,522 publishers and exhibitors from 108 countries. The fair organizes more than 1,357 diverse events, with 250 guests from 63 countries participating. These events include 500 cultural activities, such as sessions, workshops, and dialogue seminars, where writers engage in discussions on prominent cultural and literary issues, as well as the latest trends in both Arab and international literature.
More than 85 Emirati and Arab writers, renowned for their works in novels, poetry, and theatre, and recipients of prestigious awards, are participating in the fair. Additionally, 49 international guests, including leading writers and cultural figures from 14 countries, will be present, among them award-winning and renowned authors. The fair will also feature 400 writers who will be signing their new publications throughout the exhibition days.
