Sharjah Children's Reading Festival 2025 Opens with Exciting Activities

Photo: Sharjah Government Media Bureau

On Wednesday morning, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, officially opened the 16th edition of the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF 2025). The festival is organized by the Sharjah Book Authority and is being held at Expo Centre Sharjah. The theme for this year's event is "Dive into Books," and it will run until May 4. The festival continues to be a special platform that celebrates children's literature, creativity, and learning.

When His Highness arrived, he was welcomed by His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the Deputy Ruler of Sharjah; Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority; His Excellency Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, the Minister of Health and Prevention; and His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hano, Egypt’s Minister of Culture. Many other senior officials, heads of government organizations, and representatives from cultural and educational institutions in Sharjah were also present. There were also many well-known writers, intellectuals, and people who support children's literature.

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To mark the start of the festival, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi cut the traditional ribbon. Afterward, he attended a heartwarming artistic performance by children who are taking part in the festival. The children showed their gratitude for His Highness’s continuous support and expressed their excitement about the wide variety of activities available at the festival.

His Highness then took a tour around the festival halls, where he visited 122 Arab and international publishing houses from 22 different countries. This year, the festival features more than 1,024 events, including creative workshops, theatrical performances, interactive sessions, and reading activities for children and families. More than 133 distinguished guests from 70 countries are also attending, making the festival a truly global event.

During his tour, His Highness visited several pavilions and was informed about their programs that aim to encourage children to read. He also looked at the educational and training activities available at the festival, which inspire a lifelong love for reading and learning.

His Highness also visited the Sharjah Children's Pavilion, part of the Rubu' Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators. There, he officially launched the "Reader of the Century" platform. This platform is aimed at children and teens aged 6 to 18 and helps them form a stronger connection with books and knowledge. It also encourages them to take an active role in society and develop a love for reading.

At the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), His Highness met with representatives from the Egyptian Board on Books for Young People (EBBY), which is the guest of honor at this year's festival. They discussed ways to strengthen cultural ties between the UAE and Egypt, sharing ideas and working together on projects to improve children's literature and education.

His Highness also opened the newly redesigned website of the International Award for Arabic Children’s Literature and launched the 17th edition of the award. This award is now open for submissions from writers and publishers of Arabic children's books around the world. The goal is to recognize and promote the best in Arabic children’s literature.

During his visit, His Highness toured pavilions and stands, including those of the Department of Culture, the Emirates Publishers Association, the "Read, You're in Sharjah" platform, and the House of Wisdom. He was given updates on their efforts to promote publishing, culture, and the importance of fostering a love of reading and writing among children.

His Highness also visited the pavilions of the Sharjah Social Services Department, the Arab Children's Book Publishers Forum, Kalimat Foundation, Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, and Kalimat Group. He learned about the great work they are doing to encourage children to read, study, and engage in creative, educational, and fun activities.

One of the highlights of the festival was the Sharjah Children's Book Illustrations Exhibition 2025. It showcased a large collection of artwork, including works by award-winning illustrators from both the UAE and abroad. His Highness received a detailed explanation from the artists about their creative processes.

At the end of his tour, His Highness honored the winners of the Sharjah Children's Book Award. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi won the English Children's Book Award for her book House of Wisdom in the 7–13 age group. Egyptian author Mohamed Kasbar won the Arabic Children's Book Award for his book Shhh... This is a Secret in the 4–12 age group. From Bahrain, Asmaa Al Skaf won the Arabic Young Adult Book Award for her book On the Equator in the 13–17 age group. Jordanian author Nahed Al Shawa received the Sharjah Audio Book Award for The Dear Cows.

In the Sharjah Children's Book Illustrations Awards 2025, Luis Miguel San Fernando from Mexico won first place. Cristina Pieropan from Italy took second place, and Ami Shin from South Korea secured third place. Several emerging artists also received encouragement awards, including Hani Saleh from Egypt, Laura Merz from Finland, and Ali Asghar Bagherzadeh from Iran.

The 2025 edition of the festival brings exciting new activities like the Future Makers Museum and the Sherlock Holmes Exhibition. It also offers creative workshops on manga drawing, comic book art, string art, spinning robots, and interactive science experiments, giving children a fun and educational experience.

The Sharjah Children's Reading Festival is one of Sharjah’s most important cultural events. It helps to create a generation of readers who are creative, critical thinkers, and aware of the world around them. Through fun learning and engaging activities, the festival aims to inspire young people to help shape a better future.

This year’s festival also features over 50 cultural sessions with famous international authors and illustrators, and 85 theatrical performances by artists from all over the world.