At the Sharjah International Book Fair, readers aren’t just turning pages, they’re turning up their cameras
Sharjah, November 14, 2025
The appeal of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) grows with every passing year, and it is easy to see why. The organisers have mastered the art of growing with the times, meeting readers where they are and redefining what a book fair can be. SIBF is anything but traditional. At the ongoing 44th edition, visitors are flipping pages, and they are framing memories. From mirrored walls and floating canvases to dinosaur parades, the book fair has turned literary and cultural appreciation into a visual and interactive experience that captures today’s culture of connection and self-expression.
Social Media Station: Mirrors, mood, and modernity
The fair’s Social Media Station is the centre of its online buzz. A black wall covered in convex mirrors draws clusters of teens and young adults posing from every angle. “It’s like a hall of stories,” said Noura, a visitor. Around her, playful stickers in English and Arabic proclaim “Main Character Era,” “Five Stars, No Notes,” and “ICYMI BOOKS > Everything.” The space merges internet lingo with literary wit, turning digital culture into part of the book fair experience.
Intellectual Hall: The portal in yellow and orange
A towering arch in the fair’s official amber and orange tones marks the entrance to Intellectual Hall. It has quickly become a popular photo stop for visitors who pause mid-thought, phones in hand, capturing themselves as “literary intellects.”
Greece Pavilion: Where minimalism meets mythology
In white symmetry and vivid bursts of colour, the Greece Pavilion captures the calm and clarity of its islands through bookshelves and design. “It’s giving Santorini, but for books,” said one visitor, framing her shot against rows of bright covers.
Oman Pavilion: Heritage with a modern lens
In the Arabic zone, the Oman Pavilion blends traditional arches with a contemporary white finish. Its elegant cut-out bookshelves invite readers to step inside a photograph that feels both timeless and new.
Benches and roaming wonders
Beyond the booths, SIBF’s sense of playfulness takes centre stage. A life-size Smurf bench at the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority stand is a magnet for families, while roaming dinosaurs and performers on stilts turn the aisles into a moving parade. Children dance, parents film, and for a few minutes, the fair becomes a festival.
Sharjah Booth: Art in motion
At the Sharjah booth, design and storytelling merge. Iron pipes painted in the fair’s orange palette hold floating canvases that form small reading spaces and artistic frames. Visitors walk through and become part of the installation itself.
Sand dunes in the sky
High above the halls, strips of amber fabric ripple like suspended sand dunes, a subtle tribute to Sharjah’s desert landscape. The installation captures movement, light, and heritage in perfect harmony.
Sarab: Stillness and solitude
Amid the buzz, the Sarab booth offers a calm retreat. Its open layout, minimalist seating, and books on Sharjah’s history invite visitors to linger, read, and reconnect with the quiet side of storytelling.
This year, SIBF offers us a strong reminder that reading and visual culture belong to the same world. Every mirror, arch, and photograph tells a story, proving that books do not just inspire imagination; they inspire how we see and share it.
-ENDS-