Slogans of the Sage, Jaihoon’s book of quotations, finds a mention in the *Khaleej Times* report on the Guinness Book of Records for the largest simultaneous book signing ceremony in the world.
https://m.khaleejtimes.com/uae/sharjah/sharjah-hosts-worlds-largest-book-signing
Sharjah hosts world’s largest book signing
Afkar Abdullah /Sharjah
Event clinched the title for the world’s largest book-signing ceremony in one location.
Seated behind an endless line of tables at the Expo Centre, 1,502 authors from around the world have simultaneously signed their books at the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), setting a new Guinness World Record.
One of the highlights of this year’s SIBF, the event clinched the title for the world’s largest book-signing ceremony in one location, beating the previous record set by 1,423 authors in Turkey.
Amid thousands of cheering visitors at the fair, the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) received the Guinness World Record certificate from the organisation’s representatives on Thursday evening.
“This event is another step forward for Sharjah in the Arab and global cultural arena – an outstanding intellectual and creative achievement to be remembered as fruit of Sharjah’s efforts of promoting a love of books and reading for more than 40 years,” Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, chairman of the SBA, said at the record-breaking event.
“This achievement is yet another endorsement of the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, in placing books, culture and knowledge at the heart of our society.”
He added that the feat was extra special, considering that it was done during a year when Sharjah is celebrating its recognition as Unesco World Book Capital 2019.
“We thank all the authors, publishers and volunteers for enabling us to attain this world record, an Emirati achievement that will go down in history,” he said.
Snaking from one end of the Sharjah Expo Centre to the other – and up and down isles and corridors – were row upon row of seats and tables set up for the participating authors and their books.
Al Fatih Jabra – a Sudanese author who took part in the ceremony by signing his book titled Additional Income – said he was excited to be part of a “historic event”.
“It was an amazing idea organised by the SIBF, and it was an honour for me to sign my book among the massive gathering of great authors from around the world. I never expected that one day, I will be part of an event that would enter Guinness World Records,” he said.
Mujeeb Jaihoon, who signed his book Slogan of the Sage, didn’t expect that his scheduled book-signing would be part of a big event.
“This will be one of the greatest achievements in my life and will definitely make my children and grandchildren proud,” he said.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com
