[2] The book fair debuted in 1982 under the guidance and patronage of Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, the UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

[6] In 2023, for example, over 1,700 cultural, artistic and scientific events were organized, including an exhibition on the Portuguese presence in the Gulf during the 16th and 17th centuries, [7] environmental awareness [8] and bridge building workshops for children, [9] library-centred discussions, and academic debates on comparative knowledge sources.

[11] SIBF hosts a number of panel discussions every year, bringing a wide range of speakers from all kinds of fields and covering many different topics.

In 2023, alongside activities centred on historical, environmental, creative and professional themes, the fair planned to host 60 illustrator-led workshops focused on comics, manga and anime.

The award categories are as follows:[14] The Etisalat Award for Arabic Children's Literature is also presented at the book fair, with categories that include:[15] [16] Launched in 2011, the Sharjah International Book Fair Translation Grant aims to foster the exchange of literary titles by supporting the translation of Arabic literature into foreign languages and vice versa.