The International Children's Book Festival in Sharjah has concluded its sixth session, attracting 125,700 visitors from 167 countries around the world. The festival, organized by the Sharjah Book Council, was graced by the presence of Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi and received support from his wife, Sheikha Jawaher bint Muhammad Al Qasimi. The events combined literature with art, imagination and innovation, providing a unique intellectual and entertaining experience for children, teens, and families from around the globe.
"We are not just organizing a festival, we continue to create a civic program, the main idea of which is the understanding that a child is not just a reader of yesterday's day, but a creator of tomorrow," stated the General Director of the Sharjah Book Council, Ahmed bin Rakkat Al-Amri.
Hala Al-Majedaini emphasized that the festival reaffirmed that books are the strongest instrument for developing thinking and shaping the future. With the participation of 122 publishers from 22 countries and more than 133 experts from 70 countries in 1024 activities, it confirms Sharjah's commitment to a project that encompasses many communities and borders, and aims to enrich children's knowledge and creativity in a diverse cultural environment.
With a focus on supporting the publishing industry, Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi allocated 2.5 million dirhams for the purchase of books from participating publishers. This will help enrich the libraries of Sharjah with new publications that support Arabic and global content.
