Sharjah Children's Reading Festival concludes, welcoming over 125,000 visitors
Sharjah: The 16th Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF 2025) has concluded after twelve days of creativity, discovery, and cultural exchange.
Held at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme 'Dive Into Books', this year's festival welcomed 125,700 visitors from 167 countries, transforming the venue into a lively hub where literature, art, innovation, and imagination intertwine.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), SCRF 2025 translates the vision of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and the directives and guidance of Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, whose longstanding commitment to empowering youth through knowledge and fostering a passion for reading, creativity, and self-expression was reflected in the festival's rich cultural programming.
Today's reader, tomorrow's creator
Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, remarked on the significance of this year's edition, saying: 'SCRF is more than just a festival; it's an integral part of a larger cultural vision that sees children as active participants in the present, not just future readers. This philosophy, rooted in the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, has allowed SCRF to evolve into a global platform for promoting knowledge, nurturing young talent, and expanding creativity. With the support of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA we continue to build meaningful partnerships, enriching our programming, and positioning Sharjah as a world leader in books and culture.'
Award Ceremony
The final day featured the Sharjah Children's Book Illustration Award ceremony, during which Khoula Al Mujaini, the General Coordinator of SCRF, honoured the winners across two age categories. In the 12—15 age group, Sharathvignesh Senthilkumar secured first place, with Maryam Al Badri taking second. In the 16—18 age group, Tabarak Saleh claimed first place, while Amina Jushti was awarded second
A bridge to the future
Khoula Al Mujaini, General Coordinator of SCRF, highlighted how the festival reaffirmed the transformative power of books and the arts in shaping the next generation's minds. 'This year's diverse programme reflects Sharjah's unwavering commitment to fostering a cultural vision that transcends generations and borders,' she said. 'Our goal was to ensure that every child left SCRF with a book that not only spoke to their passions but also empowered them to explore their creativity, ambition, and dreams.'
A world of programming
SCRF 2025 brought together 122 publishers from 22 countries and over 133 experts from 70 nations, offering a comprehensive programme of 1,024 activities. Visitors enjoyed everything from workshops and theatre performances to storytelling sessions and live entertainment, covering a wide spectrum of interests from literature and arts to science and technology.
In a further show of support for the publishing industry, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, allocated AED 2.5 million to purchase books from participating publishers for Sharjah's public libraries, ensuring access to the latest Arabic and international titles.
A global edutainment platform
This year's festival treated attendees to 85 theatrical and roaming performances, along with interactive workshops in cooking, comic art, and more, fostering a dynamic environment where fun and learning went hand-in-hand. Over 50 cultural sessions brought together creative minds from 17 Arab countries, giving young audiences the chance to engage with inspiring authors, illustrators, and storytellers. New to SCRF was the 'Sherlock Holmes Exhibition', which transformed the festival into an immersive Victorian-era playground spanning 10,000 square feet, brimming with mystery, science, and deductive challenges.
Extraordinary experiences
Among the festival's standout attractions was the 'Future Makers Museum,' an interactive educational space where children explored science and innovation through hands-on activities. On the main stage, 'Junklandia,' a musical theatre production, captivated audiences with its blend of comedy, circus performance, and music. Meanwhile, Philippe Bougard's 'Magic in the Air' amazed young audiences with breathtaking illusions and visual effects, whisking them away on a journey of discovery.
The festival also celebrated 25 years of Spacetoon with a musical tribute, 'The Golden Generation,' performed by the Spirit of the East Choir, which resonated deeply with audiences of all ages. 'The Greatest Science Show,' led by popular YouTuber Abdullah Anan, captivated with an engaging and educational scientific display that had both children and adults mesmerised.
Honouring young talent
The festival also recognised exceptional young talent, celebrating the winners of the 'Poetry Knight' competition for their remarkable recitation and memorisation skills. Additionally, the Children's Book Illustration Award spotlighted emerging illustrators, fostering the next generation of artistic talent in children's literature.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
SBA displays cultural vision of Sharjah at Rio Book Fair
Under the directives of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the emirate of Sharjah is showcasing its rich cultural vision at the Rio International Book Fair 2025 (Bienal do Livro) in Brazil, highlighting the vibrancy of contemporary Emirati and Arab literature. The authority is also presenting a selection of Emirati works translated into Portuguese, reflecting the emirate's commitment to sharing the UAE's cultural achievements with the world. The authority's participation in the largest event of its kind in Latin America, which runs until June 22, comes as part of Brazil's celebration of World Book Capitals following the selection of Rio de Janeiro as the World Book Capital for 2025. This prestigious title, which Sharjah held in 2019, recognises the emirate's global standing in supporting culture and the publishing industry. Through its pavilion, SBA shed light on the diversity of the cultural movement in the UAE and the wider Arab world, highlighting major achievements in knowledge, literature and publishing. The authority actively engaged in panel discussions and held meetings with publishers, translators and cultural organisations, to strengthen knowledge exchange and expand opportunities for translating works to and from Arabic. As part of its efforts to build lasting partnerships, SBA invited key players in the publishing industry to take part in the emirate's leading international initiatives, including the Sharjah International Book Fair, the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, the Sharjah Publishers Conference, the Sharjah International Library Conference and other prominent global events held throughout the year. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, affirmed that the authority's participation in the Rio International Book Fair reflects the vision of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who places culture at the heart of development strategies and views books as a powerful tool for building bridges of dialogue with the world. Al Ameri said: 'Sharjah's presence in Rio highlights the central role of Emirati and Arab culture on the global knowledge map. Today, we are not only sharing our Emirati identity but also fostering a vibrant dialogue between Latin America, with its rich intellectual and cultural heritage, and the Arab world in all its expressions of thought, literature, art, and creativity. The selection of Rio as World Book Capital for 2025 offers us an opportunity to renew and strengthen our partnerships with the cultural community in Latin America.' He added: 'Under the guidance of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the SBA, we are committed to empowering Emirati and Arab publishers and authors to reach new markets and to developing sustainable support systems that enhance their presence on the global publishing stage.' As part of the cultural programme at the book fair, SBA organised a panel discussion titled, 'The heritage of Arab literature and Sharjah-led new literary movement', which explored the evolution of the Emirati literary landscape and the emirate's vital contribution to nurturing writers and advancing cultural initiatives. On the sidelines of the event, SBA organised a special book signing ceremony for the translated titles, underscoring the authority's commitment to deepening cultural exchange and strengthening the international presence of Emirati literature. During its participation, SBA highlighted several of its leading initiatives in publishing and knowledge exchange. These include the Sharjah International Book Fair, the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, and the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone. The authority also introduced the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur), an initiative designed to support publishing industries in emerging markets, and the Sharjah Literary Agency, which works to protect the rights of Arab authors and publishers while expanding their international presence. The authority has also drawn attention to the role of Sharjah Public Libraries, one of the region's oldest cultural institutions, which has been promoting knowledge for more than a century. Publishers have been briefed on the specialist international conferences hosted annually in the emirate, including the Sharjah Publishers Conference, the Sharjah International Library Conference, the Booksellers Conference and the Sharjah Animation Conference.
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Khaleej Times
'Sharing Emirati identity': Sharjah showcases UAE literature at Rio International Book Fair
Sharjah is participating in the Rio International Book Fair 2025, presenting a range of Emirati and Arab literary works as part of efforts to strengthen cultural exchange with Latin America. The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) is showcasing Emirati literature translated into Portuguese and promoting Sharjah's role in the global publishing industry at the Rio International Book Fair 2025. The event, which runs until June 22, coincides with Rio de Janeiro's designation as UNESCO's World Book Capital for 2025 a title previously held by Sharjah in participation comes under the directives of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA). Through its pavilion, SBA is presenting works from the UAE and the Arab world, highlighting developments in literature, publishing, and cultural programming. The delegation is also engaging with international publishers, translators, and cultural institutions to explore opportunities for cooperation and translation. SBA CEO Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri said the participation reflects the vision of Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who views culture as central to development. 'Sharjah's presence in Rio is about sharing Emirati identity while building stronger connections with Latin American cultural communities,' he said. As part of the book fair's programme, SBA organised a panel titled: " The heritage of Arab literature and Sharjah-led new literary movement", featuring Emirati authors whose works have been translated into Portuguese. These included Abdul Hamid Ahmad, Lulwah Al Mansouri, and Nasser Al Dhaheri. The session focused on Sharjah's role in supporting authors and encouraging new writing. The fair also featured a book signing ceremony for the translated titles, aimed at promoting Emirati literature to new audiences. SBA used the platform to introduce key cultural and publishing initiatives from the emirate, including the Sharjah International Book Fair, Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, and Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone. Other programmes highlighted included the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur) and the Sharjah Literary Agency, which supports Arab authors and expands their international reach. The Sharjah pavilion also hosted the PublisHer initiative, founded by Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi to support women in publishing. A selection of titles from Al Qasimi Publications and works from the Department of Culture were also on display. First held in 1983, the Rio International Book Fair is Brazil's largest literary event, attracting more than 600,000 visitors. Organised by the National Union of Book Publishers (SNEL), it serves as a key platform for exchanging ideas and promoting global literary dialogue.
Gulf Today
5 days ago
- Gulf Today
Sharjah honours four prominent figures of Mauritanian literature
Under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, witnessed a formal and cultural celebration that reinforced the values of loyalty to creative figures and affirmed their status. The event was held as part of the 23rd edition of the Sharjah Cultural Honouring Forum, organised by the Sharjah Department of Culture in cooperation with the Mauritanian Ministry of Culture, Arts, Communication and Relations with Parliament. Four prominent figures of Mauritanian literature were honoured in recognition of their contributions to enriching cultural life: poet Mohamed Fall Abdel Latif, linguistics academic Dr Yahya Al Hashemi, language researcher Dr Mohamedou Ameen, and poet Mohamed Al Hafiz Ould Ahmedou. The forum reflects the directives of the Ruler of Sharjah to honour literary figures who have contributed to contemporary Arab culture. This marks the fourth time the forum is held in Mauritania, where it has previously recognised 12 Mauritanian creatives over past editions. The award ceremony took place at the Conference Hall in Nouakchott, in the presence of Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture; El Houssein Ould Meddou, Minister of Culture, Arts, Communication and Relations with Parliament in Mauritania; Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of Cultural Affairs at the department; the Governor of Nouakchott-West on behalf of the Mayor of Tevragh-Zeina Municipality; as well as a large audience of Mauritanian intellectuals, academics, writers, and the honourees' families. In his speech, Abdullah Al Owais highlighted the significance of the sustained cultural collaboration between Sharjah and Mauritania, saying, "We are pleased to meet today at this distinguished cultural event, which continues the journey of cooperation between the Sharjah Department of Culture and the Ministry of Culture, Arts, Communication and Relations with Parliament. This partnership has led to numerous cultural activities that support Arab culture and reinforce the role of thought and creativity in our Arab societies.' El Houssein Ould Meddou welcomed the attendees and expressed his sincere thanks and deep gratitude to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, saying, "I am honoured to be with you today at this distinguished cultural gathering, celebrating this radiant forum and noble initiative. At the outset, I am pleased to extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah - this cultured leader who has dedicated his efforts, intellect, and time to serving the Arabic language and its literature, and to supporting the cause of culture and intellectuals throughout our Arab world.' The honourees expressed their deep gratitude for the recognition, which they considered a badge of pride and an acknowledgment of their cultural and creative journeys. They noted that the Sharjah Cultural Honouring Forum represents a civilised model for celebrating Arab intellectuals and affirms the Emirate's unwavering commitment to supporting thought and creativity across the Arab world. They praised the vision of the Ruler of Sharjah in establishing culture as a pillar of development and identity. They emphasised that this recognition is not merely a personal honour, but a celebration of Arab culture and its creative figures across various fields. WAM
