Author: Gulf Times

A masterclass on preparing kombucha, the wonder drink that is believed to improve gut health, was given to a batch of homemakers at the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF). The festival has been conducting cookery workshops and shows that have attracted men, women and children. Kombucha is a fermented drink originating from China which is believed to improve gut health and is enjoyed for its unique flavour, explained Lebanese entrepreneur Maher El Tabchy, who founded Tabchilli in Dubai to promote his passion for fermented foods. The preparation began with taking the kombucha scoby, an active ingredient in…

At the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair, workshops tailored for young attendees focus on edutainment —a blend of education and entertainment. School children aged 7 to 12 eagerly flocked to an arts and crafts session that turned a creative task into an inspiring lesson on one of the world’s smallest yet most important creatures: bees. The workshop began with a short video presentation highlighting the crucial role bees play in sustaining ecosystems. Children learned about the importance of bees to the natural world and their essential contribution to pollination. Some of the more informed students contributed to the conversation,…

Sharjah Public Libraries (SPL) is enriching visitors of all age groups coming to the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2024) with an engaging lineup of more than 18 activities designed to spark curiosity and deepen a love for reading. Themed around three core pillars – Cosmos Organisers, Writers in the Spotlight, and Behind the Scenes – SPL’s programme invites participants into the heart of literary exploration, uncovering the beauty of storytelling and celebrating authors’ contributions. Cosmos Organisers The Cosmos Organisers programme, aimed at readers and the general public, features 12 events. It started on November 6 with ‘Enhancing Creativity with…

Chetan Bhagat, best-selling Indian author who was at the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) on Sunday to discuss his latest book 11 Rules for Life, underlined that the originality of the motivational book stems from its “Indianness”. “The big ones available in the market are all Western. There’s a meritocracy in the West but India doesn’t work that way.” Bhagat, who has written 10 novels including Half Girlfriend and 2 States, addressed a packed audience including schoolchildren at SIBF 2024. He said he chose to write about 11 rules for life because “it shouldn’t be too many rules or…

Critically acclaimed Bollywood actress Huma Qureshi was at the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2024) on Sunday, to give her fans a peek into her debut novel Zeba that tells the story of a female superhero in her 30s who is flawed, confused and directionless, and yet capable of doing heroic things. During a candid conversation with Gulf News Entertainment Editor Manjusha Radhakrishnan, she also shared insights on her creative journey, her approach to feminism, and her vision for the future of storytelling. A refreshing take on the superhero trope With Zeba, Huma steps away from traditional superhero narratives…

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…