The UAE News Report
Sharjah: Visitors to the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026) are sharing their favourite books with strangers through ‘Pass the Read’, an initiative at the Your Sharjah stand that turns personal reading recommendations into a public exchange of ideas.
The activity encourages visitors to write down the title of a book they would like someone else to discover. Other fairgoers can browse those suggestions and use them to decide which books to explore among the titles available at the fair.
Recommendations displayed at the stand include A Confederacy of Dunces, The Man Who Planted Trees and The Shore. The selection reflects different reading interests, from comic fiction to stories addressing the natural world.
Readers recommend books to people they may never meet
Prompts at the stand ask visitors to think about books that made them happy, moved them emotionally or left a lasting impression. Rather than asking people to choose from a fixed reading list, the initiative gives individual readers a chance to share the titles they believe deserve attention.
Among those taking part was Jouri Sultan, a 15-year-old Emirati student, who selected Sherlock Holmes as her recommendation.
“This ‘Pass the Read’ is a wonderful idea connecting readers who may never meet in person. I hope someone follows up my recommendation,” she said.
Jouri also praised the wider book fair experience. “I really enjoyed visiting ‘Your Sharjah’ stand. I think the Sharjah Book Fair is a wonderful place to discover new books and learn new things. It has so many interesting books, fun activities and a great atmosphere.”
The recommendations provide a starting point for conversations about reading without requiring visitors to know one another. A reader can leave behind a title and another person can later encounter it, creating an informal connection through a shared interest in books.
Among the titles mentioned in the release, A Confederacy of Dunces is the Pulitzer Prize-winning comic novel by John Kennedy Toole, while The Man Who Planted Trees is Jean Giono’s well-known environmental fable. Their appearance alongside other recommendations shows how the activity accommodates different genres and styles.
Free workshops and personalised souvenirs
Beyond book recommendations, the Your Sharjah stand is offering free, walk-in creative workshops throughout the fair. Visitors can take part in activities including tote-bag making, engraving and calligraphy, adding a hands-on component to a day spent exploring books.
These workshops allow participants to make or personalise objects during their visit. They also broaden the stand’s appeal to people who wish to combine browsing books with a practical creative activity.
The stand also features Your Sharjah merchandise and souvenirs. Items listed in the release include mugs, diaries, pens, brooches, fridge magnets, charms, hoodies and sweatshirts, with selected products available for customisation.
Together, the reading exchange, workshops and souvenirs make the stand an interactive part of the fair, offering different ways for visitors to engage with the event’s cultural programme.
Sharjah Book Fair continues until 15 November
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair is taking place at Expo Centre Sharjah from 4 to 15 November 2026 under the theme Made of Stories, with the Sultanate of Oman as Guest of Honour.
According to organisers, the fair features 3,212 publishers and exhibitors from 126 countries, with more than 1.7 million titles on display. Its programme includes 1,500 cultural, creative and artistic events and 106 guests from 25 countries.
The Your Sharjah initiative is one example of the activities taking place alongside the fair’s book displays, inviting visitors not only to discover new reading material but also to share their own recommendations with others.
