The Indian Pavilion at Sharjah Book Fair 2026 offers Indian expatriates a chance to reconnect with their cultural roots through Hindi, Urdu and regional-language books, children’s literature, history and science.
SHARJAH: For Indian expatriates in the UAE who miss reading in the languages they grew up with, the Indian Pavilion at the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair offers more than a place to buy books. It gives families a chance to rediscover stories, history and familiar voices from home, with Hindi and Urdu titles alongside books in English and other Indian languages.
The pavilion, led by the National Book Trust (NBT) under India’s Ministry of Education, was inaugurated by Dr E. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, Consul General of India in Dubai. Located in Hall 7 at Expo Centre Sharjah, it is part of the fair running from November 4 to November 15, 2026.
Indian books for families living abroad
The Indian Pavilion brings together publishers and organisations including the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language, Crossword, Educational Publishing House, Naamak Publications and Pinwheel Publications. Their collections cover different languages, genres and subjects, from literature and poetry to children’s stories and educational titles.
Speaking to The Brew News, Rakesh Kumar, Joint Director of the National Book Trust, said the Sharjah fair is particularly important because it reaches a large expatriate audience. Based on lessons from last year’s event, NBT has brought books exploring Indian culture, history, Bollywood, space and scientific achievements.
Kumar explained that the trust also wants to give Indian writers and publishers a bigger international platform. Biographies and stories about notable Indian personalities can help younger generations growing up overseas understand their heritage and stay connected with their family’s roots.
Hindi, Urdu and regional languages in focus
Mohd Faizan, Director of Naamak Publications, told The Brew News that his selection includes Hindi, English and Urdu books, along with some Kannada and Dogri titles. He also highlighted an Urdu translation of a book from Eklavya Foundation and publications examining cultural links between India and the UAE.
Among the featured titles is Diwan of Allama Iqbal, which Faizan highlighted among the publisher’s notable offerings. He said several books use storytelling to introduce scientific ideas, making them relevant for younger readers as well as adults.
For parents, choosing a book in a familiar language can be a simple way to share childhood memories with their children. For young readers, it opens a door to words, characters and histories that may not feature in everyday school reading.
Impact to expect
The Indian Pavilion could encourage more Indian families in the UAE to read together in their mother tongues while giving publishers valuable insight into expatriate readers’ interests. More importantly, it strengthens the connection between language, identity and home, one book at a time.
Visitors can explore the displays at the Sharjah International Book Fair until November 15, 2026.
