Author: Gulf Times

HE Dr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, visited the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2024) where he was received by HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, and HE Ahmed Tazi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the UAE, coinciding with the celebration of Morocco as the Guest of Honour of the 43rd edition. Comprehensive tour Al Ameri accompanied the minister on a tour of the book fair, including the Moroccan pavilion, where he explored its cultural programme, featuring seminars and panel discussions by prominent Moroccan philosophers, thinkers, and…

Renowned Egyptian composer Omar Khairat made his debut at the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2024), with an unforgettable performance. Appearing before a packed crowd, Khairat and his orchestra masterfully presented some of his most cherished works spanning almost five decades. With each note, Khairat transported listeners into the heart of Egyptian cinema, where memories and emotions converged. As familiar melodies such as The Case of Uncle Ahmed and The Night of Fatima’s Arrest filled the venue, audible gasps and smiles spread through the crowd. Khairat’s orchestration of Take Care of Your Mind inspired joyful swaying, while The Second Meeting…

The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has announced a partnership with the Roads and Transport Authorities (RTA) of Sharjah and Dubai to facilitate access for visitors travelling from Dubai to the 43rd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2024). As part of this partnership, Sharjah RTA will operate ten boats, providing free transportation for visitors from Dubai and Sharjah throughout the fair. The boats will run from Sharjah Aquarium station directly to Expo Centre Sharjah, where a temporary docking area has been established to accommodate this service. Badr Mohammed Saab, Director of Government Communications at SBA, said:…

Pen and pencils never go out of relevance; not even in the time of computers, keyboards and AI, reiterated a workshop for children titled ‘The Pen and the Keyboard’ at the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), which got underway in Expo Centre Sharjah on November 6. Palestinian voiceover artist and storyteller Tasmeen Ahmed, who is active on social media, first read out a story in Arabic to children aged six and above who gathered around her to emphasise how both pen and keyboard – traditional and modern systems – are equally useful for humans. They were then given colour…

It was a day of fun with food at the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) on Sunday as young culinary enthusiasts joined the ‘Minions Pancake Decorating’ workshop, transforming plain banana pancakes into creative Minion faces with an assortment of colourful toppings. The workshop combined fun with creativity as children learned to play with ingredients, decorating their own pancake masterpieces inspired by the Minions’ famous love for bananas. Svenja Arens, who led the workshop with her team at Skilldeer, highlighted the joy of hands-on activities, saying, “It’s wonderful to see children express themselves through edible art, learning new ways to…

Children and adults alike revelled in the magic of an enchanting one-of-a-kind interactive bubble show at the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) on Sunday. A mesmerising double act by two female artistes that mixed music, bubbles and magic to create a dreamlike performance was the best start to the day for the spectators. The show opens with Sophia, a young lady in her night suit sleeping on her bed on her birthday. She wakes up and opens her birthday gifts but is not impressed by any of them except the one revealing the bubble sister, a lady in a…

It was a day out for UAE’s next gen content creators at the ongoing 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) on Sunday as they learnt what is like to be an ‘influencer for a day’ as part of a social media workshop. Attendees of all ages joined to explore what it truly means to be an influencer, learning the essential skills to create impactful content and cultivate a meaningful online presence. The interactive session conducted by Palestinian blogger and content creator Faisal Alqedrra started with defining the role of an influencer: someone who inspires and persuades through credible social media…

With a fusion of lively songs, interactive riddles, and captivating light displays, the Kuwaiti theatre troupe ALJ Sisters dazzled young audiences and families at the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2024) with their engaging play, Traino. This unique theatrical experience follows three spirited girls on a magical train journey through multiple countries, promoting cultural harmony and coexistence through each stop along the way. The outdoor theatre at Expo Centre Sharjah was packed with young attendees, who eagerly engaged with the show’s immersive elements, from musical performances to exciting puzzles. Traino kicked off with a dynamic video introduction, setting the…

Esteemed Bulgarian novelist, poet and playwright Georgi Gospodinov left his Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) audience enriched with reflections on themes that characterise his globally acclaimed works – memory, time and human resilience. During a dialogue with journalist Anamika Chatterjee, he shared his fascination with preserving memories, explaining, “In my writing, I aim to rescue forgotten moments, allowing readers to experience time beyond the constraints of the present.” He described nostalgia with its Greek roots, nostos and algos—the pain of returning—as something deeply personal, however, potentially perilous when it becomes collective. “Nostalgia can transform into propaganda,” he warned, “when entire…

“Renewable energy has increased energy independence across the world and encouraged a shift away from fossil fuels,” noted South Korean specialist in sustainable development Tae Yong Jung in his talk, “A Global Perspective on Sustainable Energy” at the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), which is underway at Expo Centre Sharjah from November 6-17. In a discussion moderated by media presenter Nadia Swan, the Professor from South Korea’s Yonsei University shed light on renewable energy approaches and how they vary significantly across countries and cultures, influenced by factors such as geography, economic development, technological advancement and cultural attitudes towards energy…