Sharjah Book Authority Attracts VIP Interest In Saudi Arabia

As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance cultural communication both regionally and internationally, the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has received a host of royal visitors, authors, publishers, journalists and senior personalities at its pavilion at the Riyadh International Book fair 2017.

Princess Tahani Al Saud and Prince Bandar bin Salman Al Saud, Special Advisor to the late King Abdullah, and Wafa Al Shammari, UNICEF’s Ambassador of Goodwill, visited SBA’s participating stand and were introduced to the fairs, festivals and events that are being organised by SBA.

Organised by the the Ministry of Culture and Information (MoCI) in Saudi Arabia, the fair runs from 8 - 18 March 2017 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre and features more than 550 publishing houses from around the world. This participation formed an ideal opportunity for SBA to share their knowledge, experience, services and achievements with key markets and audiences.

“In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to promote the emirate’s position as a cultural centrepiece, our goal is to participate in a large number and wide range of regional and international events. This also provides us with an excellent opportunity to enhance relationships with other cultural organisations to boost the publishing industry,” said Salim Omar Salim, Director of Sales and Marketing at SBA.

The SBA organised a number of meetings and interviews with a host of Saudi publishers and authors and spoke about the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), and the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF). It also explored the potential of future publishing collaborations.
Established in December 2014, the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) is dedicated to encouraging investment in creative industries and offering a platform for the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people from different countries and cultures. It is entrusted with emphasising the significant role of writers and their influence in spreading awareness of technological advancement and the availability of various sources of knowledge. SBA aims to attract relevant bodies and figures operating in the cultural sector in general, and the publishing, printing and translation of books in particular, with a special focus on literature for children.