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Mohamed MandourCulture & heritage · Wed 21 Oct 2026 | 03:13 PM
More than 50 Arab writers, poets, playwrights and artists from 17 countries will take part in the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair next month, with a program spanning fiction, poetry, literary criticism, theater and cultural heritage.
The fair will run Nov. 4-15 at Expo Centre Sharjah, bringing together literary figures from different generations to explore Arabic literature and its connections to society, identity and cultural change.
Among the prominent Emirati participants are Sultan Al Amimi, chairman of the Emirates Writers Union; novelist Ali Abu Al Reesh; and writers Reem Al Kamali and Nadia Al Najjar, whose works have received recognition from the International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
Other Emirati guests include poet and translator Shihab Ghanem, heritage researcher Fahad Al Maamari, cultural historian Ahmed Khoury, playwright and actor Habib Ghuloom, and visual artist and comics creator Nassir Nasrallah.
The program will showcase a broad range
The program will showcase a broad range of contemporary Arabic writing, including crime and suspense fiction, fantasy, children’s literature and historical research.
International participants include Egyptian actor Khaled El Sawy and Kuwaiti novelist Saud Alsanousi, who won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction for his novel “The Bamboo Stalk.”
Sudanese novelists Amir Tag Elsir and Hammour Ziada will also attend. Ziada received the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature for his novel “The Longing of the Dervish.” Other featured guests include Saudi novelist Omaima Al Khamis, Lebanese novelist Najwa Barakat and Iraqi novelist Azher Jirjees.
The lineup further includes Tunisian writer and critic
The lineup further includes Tunisian writer and critic Nizar Chakroun, Palestinian poet and performer Dana Dajani, Syrian novelist Zoulfa Katouh, Egyptian novelist and journalist Nora Nagi, and Moroccan novelist Abdelmajid Sebbata.
Organizers said the 12-day event will feature 1,500 cultural, creative and artistic activities, including panel discussions, literary evenings, workshops and programs for children and young adults.
The fair is expected to bring together 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries, alongside 106 guests from 25 countries, creating opportunities for cultural exchange among writers, publishers and readers.
The annual event has developed into a major gathering for the Arab publishing industry, combining book sales and publishing opportunities with public discussions and activities aimed at encouraging reading and promoting cultural dialogue.
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Mohamed Mandour
