The Emirate of Sharjah is one of the emirates of the United Arab Emirates, which covers 2,590 square kilometres (1,000 sq mi) and has a population of over 1,400,000 (2015). It comprises the capital city of Sharjah, after which it is named, and other minor towns and exclaves such as Kalba', Al Dhaid, Dibba Al-Hisn and Khor Fakkan.
Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi is an Emirati politician and member of the ruling family of Sharjah and the niece to Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi. She was previously the Minister of State for Tolerance, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Minister of Economic and Planning of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). She was the first woman to hold a ministerial post in the UAE.
The World Book Capital (WBC) is an initiative of UNESCO which recognises cities for promoting books and fostering reading for a year starting on April 23, World Book and Copyright Day. Cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capital carry out activities with the aim of encouraging a culture of reading in all ages and sharing UNESCO's values. The nomination does not provide a financial prize.
American University of Sharjah is a private university in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It was founded in 1997 by Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Located in University City in Sharjah, AUS has more than 5,000 students from more than 94 countries and a full-time faculty of more than 360 from 48 countries.
Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi is the ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah and a member of the Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates.
The University of Sharjah is an Emirati private national university located in University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It was established in October 1997 by its founder the ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi to meet the emirate of Sharjah's aim of educational needs. The university goals constitute of becoming a leading academic institution in the Middle East and around the world. In addition to its main campus in Sharjah City, the university has built campus facilities to provide education,training, and research programs directly to several communities throughout the emirate, GCC, Arab countries, and internationally. Most significantly, the university plays an important role in the socioeconomic development of the emirate of Sharjah.
The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF), also known as "the Arabic Booker," is regarded as the most prestigious and important literary prize in the Arab world.
Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, known professionally as Khalid Al Qasimi, was an Emirati royal and fashion designer in London who founded the Qasimi fashion label. He was the second son of Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, who has been ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah since 1972. Al Qasimi died in London on 1 July 2019.
Expo Centre Sharjah is an exhibition and convention centre, located in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It is the exhibition wing of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature is an Arabic literary award for children's literature. It was established in 2009 by the Arab Children's Book Publisher’s Forum. It is sponsored by Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of UAEBBY. Organization of the prize was handed over to UAEBBY in 2010. The award is announced each year during the Sharjah International Book Fair.
Dar AlHadaek is a Lebanese company that publishes and distributes children's books and magazines in the Arab world. It was founded in 1987.
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi is the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and President of the American University of Sharjah, Chairperson and President of Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP), Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Chairperson of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Kalimat Group, Founder and Chairperson of Kalimat Foundation, Chairperson of Sharjah Book Authority, Founder of the Emirates Publishers Association, Founder of the UAE Board on Books for Young People and past President of the International Publishers Association. Her father is His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, who has served as Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah since 1972.
The Sharjah Art Foundation is a contemporary art and cultural foundation based in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates, founded in 2009 by Hoor Al Qasimi, daughter of Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, a member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and current ruler of Sharjah, to support artists and artistic practice in the Sharjah communities, the UAE, and the region via different platforms that include Sharjah Biennial, the annual March Meeting, art residencies, production grants, commissions, art exhibitions, artistic research and publications. The foundation include exhibitions featuring the work of Arab and international artists, performances, music, film screenings, artist talks, and educational for a range or audience from children to adults. The Sharjah Art foundation strives to promote public learning and participating in art practices.
Book fairs and literary festivals are held throughout South Africa each year to promote literacy among children and adults. A country's literacy rate is often a key social indicator of development. In 2005, UNESCO Institute for Statistics reported a literacy rate of 94.37% among the population aged 15 years and older. The literacy rate among the male population in this age group was 95.4% and 93.41 for female counterparts. According to Statistics South Africa, functional illiteracy among those aged 20 years or older, was recorded at 15.4% in 2005. This has improved from 2002's 27.3%. Women are more likely to be functionally illiterate across all age groups, apart from those aged between 20 and 39 years old.
Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) is a governmental entity, established in 2014 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It operates in several sectors, under the literary umbrella; including publishing, printing, book translation, book festivals, and children's literature.
Nadia Al Najjar is an Emirati writer who published five short stories including "The Speckled Tiger", "I Am Different"; and three novels including "Cities of Passion" which won the first place in the Emirates Award for Fiction in the Short Fiction category in 2015. Her novel "Trio D" won the award for the Best Emirati Book by an Emirati Creative Writer at the Sharjah International Book Fair.
Maryam Saqer Al Qasimi is an Emirati writer for children and young adult. She published eight children short stories. Her short story "Where Did the Letters Disappear?" won the Sharjah Children's Book Award in the category of young readers in English language, 2018. Later, the story was adapted into a musical play.
Salha Obeid an Emirati writer and novelist was born in 1988. She published two novels and three short-story collections including "Alzheimers" which was published in 2010 and was translated into German. In 2016, her book "An Implicitly White Lock of Hair" won Al Owais Award for Creative Writing.
Reem Al-Kamali is Emirati author and journalist. She was born in 1979 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. She is primarily interested in heritage and ancient languages.
Ali AlShaali is an Emirati poet, publisher, and cultural activist. He published a number of poetry collections, including "A Bee and a Rababa," "Faces and Weary Others," "Earth Has but One Soul," "Show Me the Way to the Cave," and "The Grass Resembles Us, So Do the Clouds." He also published a novel titled "The Alive Live Being" and a collection of essays titled "Chambers That Have Windows."
