It is wonderful and pleasing that every year we all witness this great cultural event, the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), here in United Arab Emirates, where the cultural movement and educational liveliness is growing and continues, supported by the wise leadership. The leadership believes that building minds and rationalizing souls is the noblest objective and the most influential in the deepness of development and progress that is keen to be and exemplified on the ground through the great and continuous physical and moral support.

The event is held in the United Arab Emirates, which has become the driving force of the educational and cultural enlightenment movement in the region and we struggle to promote it through events, programs and the launch of qualitative initiatives that go beyond the borders of the state. We move to a wider space targeting children, youth, adults and all segments of society in our Arab world in order to encourage thoughts and useful knowledge in the generation.

This event we all await eagerly and excitedly, the SIBF in the UAE and abroad. Every year we find the new and unique, and it enchants the hearts and raises the taste of the reader. Year after year, the SIBF is shining at this time of year to illuminate the culture from Sharjah, the capital of Arab culture. It is a masterpiece of the achievements of our pioneering country in the fields of culture and science. It is a melting pot for all those interested in culture from all countries of the world.

Through SIBF, the vision of our leadership in terms of enriching Arabic content and promoting publishing at the local, regional and Arab levels is clearly achieved. In addition, it achieves the National Agenda 2021 indicators that aim at creating a knowledge-based competitive economy based on innovation.

This powerful presence of United Arab Emirates regarding the cultural and scientific movement has many signs and it is the result of a vision, thinking and careful plans of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who has a clear fingerprint and strong support. This is the password in enriching the UAE's cultural and scientific event.

The SIBF is just around the corner to be the most prominent cultural event and the first in the world. Certainly, without the support of his highness who provided the SIBF the reasons of its progress, this achievement would not come to reality and become a great gateway through which we reach the worlds of knowledge and literature and keep abreast of the latest sciences and developments of time.

The Ministry of Education supports this cultural event and emphasizes the importance of knowledge it offers, which is represented in the various sources of knowledge, events, seminars and cultural meetings held on the sidelines of the Fair. We take this opportunity to urge our students to make reading a daily priority. Reading is the food of soul and the way to wisdom. Allah almighty said, "And whoever gets wisdom, got much good." Reading will continue to illuminate the path of science, which is the legacy of the prophets as our holy messenger told us, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him.

 
Science is the basis for the building of our beloved country and rises us to the heights of glory and makes our flags high in the horizons of brilliance. We have to make reading our daily food, and a source that advances our civilization and humanity.

HE Hussain Al Hammadi

Minister of Education in the United Arab Emirates