Sharjah International Book Fair
Sharjah International Book Fair is a ten-day event international book fair held annually in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The Sharjah International Book Fair started since 1982 under the continued guidance and patronage of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi, the UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Since its inauguration in 1982, Sharjah Book Fair has become to be the 4th largest book fair in the world.
In 2011, it celebrated its 30th anniversary. and was attended by personalities like Shashi Tharoor, Lakshmi Nair and Ruskin Bond. Others from the Indian Subcontinent who came for the 2012 Book Fair:- Anupam Kher, Arundhati Roy, Benyamin, Deepti Naval, H. M. Naqvi, Namita Gokhale, Pankaj Mishra, Paul Zachariah, Samrat Upadhyay, Sethu, Shehan Karunatilaka, Tahmima Anam, Vidya Shah and William Dalrymple. Noushad (chef) gave a cookery show on the first day of the book fair.
The 32nd edition of the Sharjah International book fair opened its door to public on 5 November 2013. The 2013's edition of the book fair was host to 1,010 exhibitors from 53 countries and covered books from 180 languages. Bestselling author Lord Jeffery Archer was one of the guest who was invited along with other famous personalities like Gaby Leon - Lebanese Minister of Culture, Farouq Hosni, former Egyptian minister of culture and A.P.J Abdul Kalam, former Indian President. Authors and novelists attending the event will include novelist and author Najwa Barakat, Lebanese poet, and TV host Zahi Wehbe, Egyptian novelist Yousuf Al Qaeed, Algerian novelist Wasini Al Araj, Kuwaiti TV presenter Dr Fawziah Al Dorai, Lebanese TV host Tony Khalifa, and Indian actor Kamal Hassan, among many more.
Actor Kamal Hassan, launched his first book titled "Vishwaroopram" in the 2013 edition of the Sharjah Book Fair.