Bodour Al Qasimi announces the Sultanate of Oman as the guest of honor of the 45th session of the Sharjah International Book Fair 2026
Muscat, February 19, 2026 – Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Book Authority, announced that the Sultanate of Oman has been chosen as the guest of honor for the 45th session of the Sharjah International Book Fair 2026, in celebration of the solid contributions made by Omani culture to Arab literature and thought, and in appreciation of its cognitive presence, which over the decades has formed an integral part of the Gulf and Arab cultural scene.
Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi stressed that hosting the Sultanate of Oman represents a celebration of the depth of Arab and Gulf culture, with a voice close to the United Arab Emirates in location, language, memory and values, noting that Oman, with its established cultural presence and pioneering experience in various fields of knowledge, adds to the exhibition a space to learn about the diversity of the Arab House and enhance dialogue between the region’s readers and its creators.
She said: Oman has added a lot to our Arab culture with the solid literary and intellectual experiences it brought and what its writers, thinkers and creators presented. Its presence at the Sharjah International Book Fair constitutes an opportunity for the exhibition’s audience to learn about the aesthetics of Omani literature, the diversity of its arts and cultural production, and see its creative achievements that reflect the depth and richness of Arab identity, in addition to communicating with its cultural symbols and recalling its journey in the service of books and reading across successive generations.
The announcement came following the signing of a joint agreement signed by His Excellency Sayyid Saeed bin Sultan bin Yaarub Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture in the Sultanate of Oman, and His Excellency Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority.
His Excellency Sayyid Saeed bin Sultan bin Yaarub Al Busaidi confirmed that the signing of the cooperation agreement for the participation of the Sultanate of Oman, guest of honor of the next session of the Sharjah International Book Fair, is a result of the efforts of joint cultural cooperation with the UAE. It also embodies the depth of the cultural, historical and social ties between the peoples of the two countries and translates the highest directives of the leadership of the two countries aimed at consolidating the values of constructive cooperation and joint work at various levels, most notably culture and arts.
His Excellency added that this attendance at the Sharjah International Book Fair, which is one of the largest and most important book fairs in the region, reflects the cultural and historical status of the Sultanate of Oman, noting that participation aims to highlight the Omani cultural heritage and the intellectual production of the Sultanate of Oman, shed a deeper light on the cultural and artistic experiences that the Sultanate abounds, and highlight the Omani cultural scene in its various fields and areas such as thought, literature, poetry, theatre, novels, arts and music.
His Excellency said, through this participation, we seek to provide an opportunity for the Arab and international public to learn about Omani culture in all its manifestations, enhance the presence of Omani writers and creators at the external level, and contribute to supporting the local publishing sector by opening channels of communication with Arab and international publishing houses in order to enhance the presence of Omani books in foreign markets. Participation will also include a diverse cultural and artistic program that includes selected cultural events that will allow exhibition attendees to learn about aspects of the cultural, intellectual and creative achievement. For the Sultanate of Oman.
In turn, His Excellency Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri said: The selection of the guest of honor in each session of the Sharjah International Book Fair embodies an extension of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who placed culture and the book industry at the heart of Sharjah’s civilizational project and made the exhibition a permanent space for global dialogue. The guest of honor pavilion, which brings together under its umbrella writers, publishers and thinkers from various parts of the world, has become a window from which the exhibition’s audience overlooks diverse global cultural experiences and space. A neighborhood where literature, arts and knowledge from different cultures meet.
Al Ameri added: Hosting the Sultanate of Oman represents an important step in enhancing integration between Arab publishing markets, as the exhibition provides a practical platform for displaying publications, concluding copyright and translation agreements, providing a wider space for the presence of Omani literature and thought in front of the exhibition audience, and enhancing opportunities for direct interaction between Omani creators, readers and knowledge makers from various parts of the world. Under the directives of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Authority, we are working to transform the participation of the guest of honor into a path of continuous professional cooperation that is reflected in the cultural movement. The publishing and distribution industry and the exchange of experiences contribute to expanding the presence of Arabic books in global markets.
The program for Oman’s participation as guest of honor in the 45th session of the exhibition includes presenting a group of cultural and literary events that reflect the richness and diversity of Omani culture, starting from novels, theater and poetry to contemporary literature and visual arts. The program also witnesses the presence of an elite group of Omani writers, writers and publishers, in addition to activities that highlight prominent stations in the history of Omani culture.
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