Sharjah to Host Literary Days in Paris to Deepen Franco-Arab Exchange

Sharjah is preparing to host a new cultural initiative titled ‘Sharjah Literary Days’ in Paris, aimed at strengthening ties between the emirate and France through literary and archival exchange. The event was announced by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, during her visit to the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF), one of the country’s foremost heritage institutions.

The announcement follows meetings between Sheikha Bodour and senior French cultural officials, during which the two parties discussed avenues for future collaboration across literature, publishing, and archival preservation. Key areas of cooperation include the exchange of rare manuscripts, joint exhibitions, and educational programmes focused on children’s literature and early reading initiatives.

As part of the visit, Sheikha Bodour presented copies of the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language to both the Richelieu and François-Mitterrand branches of the BnF. The gesture was intended to honour the institution’s role in preserving written heritage and to further promote Arabic-language resources within French literary circles.

The planned collaboration envisions travelling exhibitions featuring historical artefacts and rare manuscripts to be displayed in both Sharjah and Paris. Cultural programming will also include workshops and events that aim to raise the visibility of Emirati literature in French-speaking contexts, and vice versa.