The Sharjah Book Authority, SBA, has announced a dedicated zone for publishers and distributors of e-books and audio-books, as part of the 36th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair, SIBF, which will be held from 1st to 11th November at the Expo Centre Sharjah.

The "Future Zone" was created in response to the high level of online book sales, with the aim of meeting the growing demands of the digital era.

Hall 1 at the SIBF will be allocated for online and audio-books, and a group of leading publishing houses specialising in e-books and digital publishing will take part, including "neelwafurat.com," "instaylo.com," "almanhal.com," "Kitab Sawti AB," "Kadi and Ramadi," "Jamalon," "thatsbooks.com," "Canon" and "LexisNexis."

The digital publishers will share their knowledge with visitors and help them explore various related features, such as smart searching and browsing.

Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of the SBA, said, "The Future Zone is designed to meet the needs of readers interested in digital literature, especially school and university students, and those who listen to audio-books, whether at home, working or spending considerable amounts of time travelling."

Al Ameri added that while the SIBF focusses mainly on hard copies, it cannot ignore the growing demand for digital and audio-books. "We aim to attract all community members to the world of reading, regardless of the tools and formats they use," he further added.

The Future Zone will provide the SIBF’s visitors with the opportunity to interact with participating companies and exhibitors while experiencing their products through various online, audio and visual channels. The zone will also enable visitors to enjoy an array of promotions and discounts, in line with the SIBF’s commitment to providing easy access to literature for everyone.