Unesco announces Sharjah as World Book Capital 2019

  SHARJAH – Signaling a groundbreaking achievement for the UAE and the Arab world, Sharjah has been crowned as "World Book Capital" for 2019 by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco). Sharjah is the first in the GCC and third in the Arab world and Middle East to have received this recognition. The title is a recognition of Sharjah's pioneering role in supporting and expanding the local and regional publishing industries, promoting reading to become an intrinsic cultural practice, as well as embracing intercultural, knowledge-based dialogue. The accolade is the lates feather to Sharjah's cap, with the emirate already given the distinction of Capital of Arab Culture (1998), Capital of Islamic Culture (2014), and Capital of Arab Tourism (2015). Unesco experts chose Sharjah for the quality of its literary and cultural activities, and for its unfailing efforts to make books accessible to the entire population of the nation. Sharjah is the 19th city to become World Book Capital. It was preceded by Madrid (2001), Alexandria (2002), New Delhi (2003), Antwerp (2004), Montreal (2005), Turin (2006), Bogota (2007), Amsterdam (2008), Beirut (2009), Ljubljana (2010), Buenos Aires (2011), Yerevan (2012), Bangkok (2013), Port Harcourt (2014), Incheon (2015), Wroclaw (2016), Conakry (2017) and Athens (2018). Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the Emirates Publishers Association, Head of Sharjah's World Book Capital Organising Committee, said: "We are so proud to have been recognised on a global scale for literary excellence, and having our name being put on the same platform with some of the world's frontrunners in the world of books and reading. This signals a fruition of the momentous project that was established four decades ago by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. His Highness has led efforts of both institutions and individuals working to shape the emirate's cultural identity with knowledge and books. It is his strong belief in intercultural dialogue as a means to advance local communities that has led to the establishment of a tolerant, culture-loving society in Sharjah." Sheikha Bodour added: "His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah's insistence on knowledge being a conscientious human choice that goes beyond the arts and literature to include a space for free exchange of ideas within the Arab world, has helped us as a region to consolidate efforts regionally and globally. Sharjah has now reached a point where it can be safely said that it is a driver of knowledge in the region, and, in its achievements, mirrors the wisdom words of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qasimi: 'Culture is a message to move ahead and purify one's soul. It is a force that takes us to higher levels of fraternity. Also, education is key to fueling progress to see greater horizons'." Sharjah hosts more than 1,500 publishers from across the world at Sharjah International Book Fair. It also hosts the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival. Sharjah has launched initiatives and pilot projects to achieve its vision to promote maximum community involvement in reading. Knowledge without Borders is one such example, which has established free home libraries for 42,000 Emirati families last year. Sheikha Bodour launched the 'Kitabi Al Awal' (My First Book) initiative, which aimed to develop a love for books and stories among new-borns. Under the initiative 5,000 book hampers were gifted to expectant mothers across more than 60 healthcare centres and medical clinics in the UAE. Sharjah is the first emirate in the UAE that established a formal school and public library. It is also the first emirate to house many cultural institutions like the Emirates Publishers Association, the Emirates Writers Union and the UAE Board on Books for Young People. DAJ/Expat 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